Uganda
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, stretching along the equator between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. It has earned the title of ‘The Pearl of Africa’ due to the beauty of its natural features and significant natural resources. With fertile lands and regular rainfall approximately 80% of the population are farmers.
Economic and democratic reforms introduced since 1986 by President Yoweri Museveni have aided the rapid recovery from depression, conflict and economic despair that devastated the country during Idi Amin’s dictatorship in the 1970s. However ongoing conflict in the north between the Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and massive displacement.
Uganda remains a very poor country with life expectancy at just 46 years and 85% of the population living on less than $1 a day. HIV/AIDS infection levels in Uganda have shown significant decline over the past decade aided by a national campaign to control the spread of the virus.
Significant progress around primary school education is evident, even though 85% of children do not attend secondary school. However the under-five mortality rate remains high with malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS as main causes.
Some of the reasons why Plan works in Uganda
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1 in 7 children born dies before reaching the age of five
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39% of children suffer stunted growth due to poor nutrition
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A fifth of children do not attend primary school
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60% of the population do not have access to adequate sanitation
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