11th July 2011, is World Population Day. It’s a day that was put aside to address the relationship between population growth and development.
Different stakeholders in population and development programmes have traveled to Kayunga where the national celebrations are being held under the theme ‘Uganda at thirty three million: Time to act.’ However, many people are not aware about this day, not because it is not a public holiday, but few people are concerned about population issues and how they relate to household, community and national development.
As we very well know, population provides labour, one of the factors of production, and as such should be considered an asset that could accelerate development. But this can only happen if it is well planned. The fundamental question we should ask ourselves today is how much Uganda is benefiting from the high population growth rates.
It should be noted that Uganda has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, and this has undermined all government’s efforts in providing quality social services such as roads, education and health instead of the population accelerating development as expected. The available infrastructure which was designed before independence cannot support the ever increasing numbers.
Strategies laid down for poverty eradication have been undermined. Rapid population growth has put enormous stress on the available natural resources such as forests and swamps which are supposed to be conserved. At the current growth rates, the population is projected to double every after twenty years, yet the resources will remain the same or even more likely reduce.
It is important to note that a big section of our population is made up of young people with brilliant ideas, determination and energy to effectively move this country forward. Young people are agents of change with fresh ideas and are a great resource for the future. The population of young people has continued to increase over the years and soon we shall have the largest working-age population the country has ever had.
Unfortunately, the young people in Uganda are considered to be less productive and merely large consumers of the available resources. They depend on the few adults who at times find it difficult to provide all the basic necessities of life. Their lives are threatened by poverty, unemployment, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, illiteracy, civil conflicts and sexual abuse, among others, which prevent them from exploiting their full potential.
As we commemorate World Population Day, it is important that all stakeholders appreciate the need to invest in young people in order to achieve the desired social development. We should all put it in mind that many young people are at the critical stage of decision making and any desired changes have to be introduced at this stage.
At this stage, young people are faced with the dynamics of transition from childhood to adulthood. They are not as innocent as the children they once were, but also lack the maturity of adults and ability to do critical thinking. They need empowerment to become effective change agents in their communities. There is great need to provide health services to the young people to ensure that they remain healthy and productive.
They should be protected from HIV/AIDS, STI’s and other infections that undermine their health and energy. There is an increasing number of young people on the street of all major towns in the country who need our help and support. They are at high risk of physical and sexual abuse and exploitation, psychological and emotional torture, among others.
However, they do have the potential to succeed like others if deliberate strategies are designed to address their needs. My appeal to all the stakeholders is to consider young people as ‘special’, with special needs that should be addressed. I call upon the government to put in place programmes aimed at addressing issues affecting young people’s growth and development.
The education system needs to be redesigned to meet the job market demands. More employment opportunities need to be created, both in the formal and informal sector, to absorb the increasing numbers joining the working class.
We should ensure that young people remain healthy by establishing and supporting youth clinics. With increased investment in programmes targeting young people, the country will benefit from their rich potential since they will become assets, not liabilities for the country.
Different stakeholders in population and development programmes have traveled to Kayunga where the national celebrations are being held under the theme ‘Uganda at thirty three million: Time to act.’ However, many people are not aware about this day, not because it is not a public holiday, but few people are concerned about population issues and how they relate to household, community and national development.
As we very well know, population provides labour, one of the factors of production, and as such should be considered an asset that could accelerate development. But this can only happen if it is well planned. The fundamental question we should ask ourselves today is how much Uganda is benefiting from the high population growth rates.
It should be noted that Uganda has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, and this has undermined all government’s efforts in providing quality social services such as roads, education and health instead of the population accelerating development as expected. The available infrastructure which was designed before independence cannot support the ever increasing numbers.
Strategies laid down for poverty eradication have been undermined. Rapid population growth has put enormous stress on the available natural resources such as forests and swamps which are supposed to be conserved. At the current growth rates, the population is projected to double every after twenty years, yet the resources will remain the same or even more likely reduce.
It is important to note that a big section of our population is made up of young people with brilliant ideas, determination and energy to effectively move this country forward. Young people are agents of change with fresh ideas and are a great resource for the future. The population of young people has continued to increase over the years and soon we shall have the largest working-age population the country has ever had.
Unfortunately, the young people in Uganda are considered to be less productive and merely large consumers of the available resources. They depend on the few adults who at times find it difficult to provide all the basic necessities of life. Their lives are threatened by poverty, unemployment, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, illiteracy, civil conflicts and sexual abuse, among others, which prevent them from exploiting their full potential.
At this stage, young people are faced with the dynamics of transition from childhood to adulthood. They are not as innocent as the children they once were, but also lack the maturity of adults and ability to do critical thinking. They need empowerment to become effective change agents in their communities. There is great need to provide health services to the young people to ensure that they remain healthy and productive.
They should be protected from HIV/AIDS, STI’s and other infections that undermine their health and energy. There is an increasing number of young people on the street of all major towns in the country who need our help and support. They are at high risk of physical and sexual abuse and exploitation, psychological and emotional torture, among others.
However, they do have the potential to succeed like others if deliberate strategies are designed to address their needs. My appeal to all the stakeholders is to consider young people as ‘special’, with special needs that should be addressed. I call upon the government to put in place programmes aimed at addressing issues affecting young people’s growth and development.
The education system needs to be redesigned to meet the job market demands. More employment opportunities need to be created, both in the formal and informal sector, to absorb the increasing numbers joining the working class.
We should ensure that young people remain healthy by establishing and supporting youth clinics. With increased investment in programmes targeting young people, the country will benefit from their rich potential since they will become assets, not liabilities for the country.
