Uganda's Progress Masks Deepening Inequalities, Warns EOC
Uganda has made remarkable strides in social services, but a shadow looms over these achievements. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has sounded the alarm, revealing that despite significant advancements, deep-rooted inequalities persist, threatening to undermine the nation's progress. But here's where it gets controversial: while the government celebrates improved staffing levels in public facilities, rising life expectancy, and reduced HIV prevalence, the EOC argues that these gains are not evenly distributed, leaving vulnerable populations behind.
Let's break it down. From 2009/10 to 2022/23, staffing levels in public facilities soared from 53% to 80%, contributing to impressive health outcomes. HIV prevalence plummeted from 18% in the 1980s to 5.4% in 2024, and infant, under-five, and maternal mortality rates have significantly declined. Life expectancy has also risen dramatically, from 47 years in the 1960s to 70.1 years for women and 66.9 years for men in 2024. However, this is the part most people miss: these improvements are concentrated in urban and central regions, while remote and rural areas continue to struggle with limited access to healthcare.
In its 12th Annual Report on the State of Equal Opportunities in Uganda for the 2024/25 financial year, the EOC highlights that government initiatives have expanded access to essential services, but the benefits remain uneven. EOC Chairperson Safia Jjuuko emphasizes, “The progress we celebrate in national development is not yet felt equally across the country. Inequalities in health, education, governance, and economic opportunity continue to limit access for marginalized populations. Our responsibility is to ensure no one is left behind.”
Here’s a bold interpretation: while the government’s investments in health infrastructure, such as increasing specialized hospitals from one to five and general hospitals from 49 to 193, are commendable, the lack of a national health insurance scheme and persistent barriers for persons with disabilities, older persons, and low-income earners suggest a systemic failure to address inequality. The report warns that these achievements mask widening disparities, with health facilities, medicines, and specialists remaining concentrated in urban areas.
Education, another cornerstone of development, has seen transformative changes through Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education. Enrolment for children with disabilities has risen from 20% in the 1990s to 60% by 2020, and government efforts to expand higher education, including the growth from one public university to 13, have promoted inclusion. But here's the counterpoint: despite these gains, quality and performance remain heavily influenced by geography and income. Learners in Central and Western regions consistently outperform those in Eastern and Northern Uganda, and high school fees, unofficial levies, and long distances to school continue to exclude vulnerable children.
Governance and economic disparities further complicate the picture. Women remain underrepresented in national leadership, and ethnic minorities have no parliamentary representation. Economic programs like the Parish Development Model and Youth Livelihood Programme have yet to bridge the poverty gap, with regions like Karamoja (84.9% poverty rate) and Acholi (63.6%) still struggling. This raises a thought-provoking question: are these programs truly inclusive, or do they inadvertently perpetuate existing inequalities?
The EOC calls for strengthened funding for underserved regions, recruitment and retention of skilled health workers, expansion of social protection, and increased investment in Special Needs Education. Minister Betty Among, from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, emphasizes the importance of education and social services in combating poverty, highlighting initiatives like technical schools and Presidential Skilling Hubs. But is this enough? As we celebrate these efforts, we must ask: what more can be done to ensure that vulnerable populations are not just included but empowered?
The report urges improved collaboration between ministries, development agencies, and local governments, emphasizing that sustained commitment, funding, and monitoring are essential. And this is where you come in: do you think Uganda’s current strategies are sufficient to address these deep-rooted inequalities? What additional measures would you propose to ensure that no one is left behind? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
