Nature, Distribution and Evolution of Poverty & Inequality in Uganda

Mapping Various Dimensions of PovertyFigure 4.1 Distribution of poverty rate versus deprivation index for rural areasMap 4.2 is based on the same data as Figure 4.1(poverty rate versus deprivation index). It showswhere areas with high poverty rates coincide withhigh deprivation levels and where they do not. Itindicates some convergence in spatial patternsbetween the two measures of well-being. Forexample, Lokopo, Lopei and Katikekile in MorotoDistrict and Loroo Sub-county in Nakapiripirit hadboth high poverty rates (more than 80 percent)and large concentrations of deprivation (morethan 80 percent). There are hardly any areas withlow poverty rates but high levels of deprivation.Broadly, maps of poverty rates overlaid with thedeprivation index exhibit consistent patternsof poverty distribution by both dimensions: asthe poor by the expenditure-based poverty ratemeasure increase so do the poor by the deprivationindex.The map also highlights some exceptions to thistrend: some areas have high poverty rates but lowlevels of deprivation. This pattern is exhibited inJangokoro and Paidha in Nebbi district, Patikoand Odek in Gulu, Lira Palwo and Omot in PaderDistrict, all found in the Northern region and GweriSub-county, Soroti District in Eastern Region.This suggests that the expenditure-basedmeasures of poverty and the deprivation index(based on lacking in five basic necessities) cannotalways be used interchangeably. Both measuresof well-being can be used to locate the poorestcommunities because generally a very high shareof poor people by the expenditure-based indicatorcoincides with high shares of households that aredeprived of all five basic necessities. However,these two measures show less correlation anddifferent spatial patterns for communities withpoverty rates of 20 to 60 percent and an deprivationindex of less than 10 percent. In that range, thedeprivation index (as calculated in Box 4.1) cannotdifferentiate enough among households. Mosthouseholds seem to be able to afford five or afew of the basic necessities (e.g., a family can buysoap and sugar for all family members), but theyvary greatly in their level of income which in someareas may be high enough to boost families overthe poverty line while in other they may still nothave enough to pass that threshold.Nature, distribution and evolution of poverty and inequality in Uganda, 1992 - 2002 59