Poorest Districts in Uganda: Understanding Poverty

Uganda has over 135 districts, and poverty varies significantly across them. The poorest districts are mainly in the Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions, with poverty rates often exceeding 65%. These areas struggle with economic development due to historical conflicts, climate issues, and poor infrastructure. This article aims to identify and analyze the poorest districts in Uganda, using available data and indicators, and discuss the underlying causes and ongoing efforts to address poverty.

Key Points

• The poorest districts in Uganda are primarily in the northern and eastern regions, especially Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions.
• Districts like Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, Amudat, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Amuru, Nwoya, and Lamwo have high poverty rates.
• Poverty is measured using monetary and multidimensional indices, with Karamoja having poverty rates around 65-69% and Acholi around 67-68%.
• Surprisingly, these districts face challenges like historical conflict, climate variability, and limited access to services, contributing to their poverty.

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Methodology and Data Sources

Poverty in Uganda is measured using both monetary and multidimensional approaches. The monetary approach relies on the national poverty line, while the multidimensional approach, as outlined in the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report 2022 – Uganda, considers dimensions such as health, education, and living standards. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) conducts national household surveys, such as the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2019/20, which provide insights into poverty at national and sub-regional levels. However, district-wise poverty rates are not always publicly detailed in these reports, leading us to use sub-regional data as a proxy, supplemented by historical data and socio-economic indicators.

Identification of Poorest Districts

The 2019/20 UNHS data, as accessed from UBOS, reveals that sub-regions with the highest poverty headcounts include Karamoja and Acholi. Specifically:

• Karamoja Sub-region: Recorded a poverty headcount of 65.7% pre-COVID and 68.9% during COVID, indicating severe poverty levels.
• Acholi Sub-region: Had a poverty headcount of 67.7% pre-COVID and 67.4% during COVID, also among the highest in the country.

Other sub-regions like Busoga (29.4% pre-COVID, 31.3% during) and Bukedi (34.7% pre-COVID, 38.8% during) also show high poverty rates, but Karamoja and Acholi stand out due to their extreme figures.

Given the lack of explicit district-wise poverty rates in recent reports, we infer the poorest districts by listing those within these sub-regions, based on the 2014 National Population and Housing Census and historical poverty maps, such as the 2005 rural poverty rates map from World Resources Institute, which highlighted northern districts like Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, Pader, Moroto, and Nakapiripirit as having poverty rates above 60%.

The districts in Karamoja and Acholi are:

• Karamoja Sub-region: Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, Amudat.
• Acholi Sub-region: Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Amuru, Nwoya, Lamwo.

Additionally, districts in Busoga (e.g., Bugiri, Iganga, Kamuli) and Bukedi (e.g., Budaka, Butaleja, Kibuku) are also likely to be among the poorer ones, given their sub-regional poverty rates.

Socio-Economic Indicators and Correlates

To further understand poverty, we can look at socio-economic indicators from the 2014 census (UBOS 2014 Census Report) which, while not providing direct poverty rates, includes data on household characteristics, remittances, and disability status that correlate with poverty. For example:

District	Percentage of Households Receiving Remittances	Population with Disability	Average Household Size	Urbanisation Level (%)
Kotido	7.2	49,398	3.4	6.4
Moroto	9.0	22,083	3.5	11.5
Nakapiripirit	37.8	28,396	4.5	6.6
Kaabong	9.8	9,437	5.0	13.5
Amudat	14.9	22,781	3.8	8.6
Gulu	31.5	51,768	1.6	36.6
Kitgum	27.6	36,446	4.1	1.9
Pader	24.6	30,285	3.5	7.1
Amuru	29.3	59,522	2.5	12.3
Nwoya	36.8	17,138	2.9	12.8
Lamwo	28.4	30,296	2.8	5.6

These indicators suggest lower economic activity and higher vulnerability in these districts, aligning with high poverty rates.

Factors Contributing to High Poverty

Several factors contribute to the high poverty rates in these districts:

1. Historical Conflict: Districts in Acholi, such as Gulu and Kitgum, were severely affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, leading to displacement, loss of livelihoods, and disrupted economic activities (Poverty in Uganda – Wikipedia)
2. Climate Variability: Karamoja districts like Kotido and Moroto face severe climate challenges, including droughts and floods, which impact agricultural productivity (World Bank Report on Uganda)
3. Limited Access to Services: These districts often have poor infrastructure, limited access to healthcare, and low educational attainment, contributing to multidimensional poverty, as highlighted in the Multidimensional Poverty Index Report 2022 – Uganda.
4. Economic Marginalization: Dependence on rain-fed agriculture and lack of economic diversification make these regions vulnerable to economic shocks (Development Initiatives on Poverty in Uganda)

Recent Developments and Government Initiatives

The government of Uganda, along with international partners, has implemented various programs to address poverty in these regions:

• Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF): Aimed at improving infrastructure and services in the northern region, particularly in Acholi, as part of broader poverty reduction strategies.
• Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Program: Focuses on disarmament, peacebuilding, and development in Karamoja, targeting districts like Kotido and Moroto to enhance security and economic opportunities.
• Uganda Vision 2040: A long-term development plan emphasizing reducing poverty and inequality, with specific targets for improving access to education and healthcare in poorer districts (Opportunity International on Uganda Poverty)

Conclusion and Future Prospects

While exact district-wise poverty rates are challenging to obtain without specific UBOS reports, the districts in Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions, such as Kotido, Moroto, Gulu, and Kitgum, are among the poorest in Uganda, with poverty rates often exceeding 65%. Targeted interventions, continued support, and investment in infrastructure are essential to improve the lives of the people in these areas and reduce poverty sustainably.