KAMPALA – Hon Amos Lugolobi , the Finance State Minister in charge of Planning, has commended the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) for exhibiting professionalism and skills during the compilation of the Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) 2022.
Unlike the previous UDHS Reports, the 2022 report was the first of its kind to be compiled by UBOS without much technical support from other external partners.
“Now that we have been invited to the dissemination and launch of the Main Report, the implications are that the team behind the survey has refined the product and is ready to release it to the public. I wish to commend them for that.” remarked Lugolobi at the launch of UDHS at Mestil Hotel Kampala on Friday
The Minsiter also thanked the partners who worked hand in hand with UBOS to come up with these findings as he asked Ugandans to contribute equally in solving the challenges raised in the report.
“Key Finding disseminated in September last year showed that the infant mortality declined from 88 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000-01 to 36 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. It showed that
Under-5 mortality declined from 151 deaths per 1,000 live births to 52 deaths per 1,000 live births in same period.”
“May be this is the time to ask ourselves whether the methodology used to arrive at the number is appropriate and whether an improvement from 88 to 36
Deaths per 1,000 live births matches the investment we have made in that area. It is also time to question whether there could be something else we could do, apart fromn appropriation of financial resources.” Advised Lugolobi.
Suzan Ngongi Namondo, UN Resident Cordinator in Uganda, noted that UDHS Report is a fountain of information that tells us how we are doing in line with the National Development Plan (NDP).
“Am grateful for the efforts which have been put in place to bring on board other players in data ecosystem like Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and private sector to compliment government efforts. Am glad that over the years government’s efforts to manage surveys has improved greatly.”
Dr. Albert Byamugisha UBOS Board Chairperson commended Dr. Chris Mukiza , the Executive Director of UBOS for his good leadership skills which enabled his team to come up with well detailed UDHS Report.
“The Bureau has played a pivotal role in Cordinating the National statistical system , fostering evidence based decision making , delivering quality statistics and fostering collaboration in various government institutions, Minsitries, departments, Local Government, Aacademia among others.”
Dr. Chris Mukiza , the Executive Director of UBOS revealed that they compiled this report with a team from Minsitry of Education with an aim generating data and statistics needed for planning in the health sector.
UDHS 2022 FINDINGS
The survey stated that the average size of a household in Uganda is 4.5 persons with thirty percent of the household being headed by women, forty nine of the population being under 15 years of age
79 percent of Ugandan households own a mobile phone , 54 percent own a radio , 24 percent own a television, 66 percent of Ugandan household own Agricultural land.
Women in Uganda have an average of 5.2 children , fertility in Uganda has declined from 6.2 children per woman in 2011 to 5.2 Children per woman in 2022.
Women in rural areas have an average of 5.6 children compared to 4.3 children among women in urban areas. Fertility is lowest in Kampala region (3.7 per woman) and highest being in Karamoja region (6.7 Children per woman)
On average , women aged between 15 – 49 have given birth to 3 Children, Currently married woman aged 15 to 49 have 4 children.
23.5 percent of women aged between 15 to 19 had initiated Child bearing at the time of the survey 49 percent of live births in the 3 years preceding the survey had a reported birth weight from a written record.
63 percent of Children aged between 12-23 months received all basic vaccinations.
Basic Vaccination coverage is lowest in Karamoja region 33 Percent , highest in Kigezi 84 percent . The percentage of children age of 12 – 23 months in Uganda who received all basic vaccinations increased from 37percent in 2000- 01 to 63 percent in 2022.
