Census Analytical Report - Uganda Bureau of Statistics

The 2002 Population and Housing Census Analytical ReportChapter 11: POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ONTHE CENSUS FINDINGSThis chapter summarises the policy implications based on the preceding analysis and related studies,and derives messages that are useful in the monitoring of the PEAP and MDGs.11.1 Rationale for controlling and monitoring population size, growth and migration to sustaineconomic growthThe population growth rate of 3.2 percent registered during the intercensal period 1991 to 2002 is thesecond highest ever recorded in Uganda and currently one of the highest in the world. Such a highpopulation growth rate has major implications on the demand for social services and places a hugeburden on the already limited budget of the sector. It is recommended that government should step uppolicies and programs to manage the population growth.International migration is an important factor that affects both the population size and the country’ssocial economic development. Unlike births and deaths (the other two factors that affect the populationsize of a country) international migration, especially emigration is not easy to monitor. This is also trueif migrants use non-gazetted entry and exit border points. It becomes difficult to accurately estimatethe country’s population growth if the full picture of migration is not ascertained. It is thereforerecommended that:• The legal requirement that all immigrants should register on arrival, should be enforced andmonitored. Wherever possible, immigrants should also register with the lower local governmentlevels of administration where the immigrants eventually wish to settle.• Government should strengthen the birth and death registration exercise and incorporate it into theroutine functions of local governments.• Government should allocate adequate resources and facilitation to the departments in charge ofregistering immigrants.11.2 Improving the quality and quantity of human settlementThe housing stock in Uganda consists mostly of temporary structures. Permanent housing unitsprovide better protection against natural and man made disasters. Provision of adequate housing forall households should be the ultimate goal of both government and the population in general. A reviewof the Housing policy to ensure that the public sector plays a more active role in guiding, regulating andsupporting housing development is required. This will enhance the accessibility of all to decent housingand ensure sustainable human settlement development.139