Uganda Fact File on Women
Population structure: 2011 estimate (CIA World Fact Book)
- 0-14 years: 49.9% (male 8,692,239/female 8,564,571). Ratio of 1.014 – slightly more boys than girls
- 15-64 years: 48.1% (male 8,383,548/female 8,255,473). Ratio of 1.015 – slightly more men than women
- 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 291,602/female 424,817). Ratio of 0.686 – More women than men in this age group
Life expectancy at birth: 2011 estimate (CIA World Fact Book)
- total population: 53.24 years
- male: 52.17 years
- female: 54.33 years
Total fertility rate: 2011 estimate (CIA World Fact Book)
6.69 children born/woman (on average every woman in Uganda gives birth to almost 7 children)
Median age: 2011 estimate (CIA World Fact Book)
- Total: 15.1 years
- Male: 15 years
- Female: 15.1 years
Literacy: (2002 census)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- Total population: 66.8%
- Male: 76.8%
- Female: 57.7%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): (2009)
Total: 11 years
- Male: 11 years
- Female: 11 years
Maternal mortality rate: 430 deaths /100,000 live births (32nd worst rate: compare with Sweden 5/1,000) (CIA World Fact Book)
Women comprise 35% of Uganda’s Parliament – The 7th highest percentage in Africa
Since 87% of Uganda’s population lives in the rural areas, the typical Ugandan could be described as a 15.1 year old girl in the rural areas. This is the “most common” Ugandan you will meet.
MARCH 2012 THEME: HONOURING WOMEN IN SOCIETY
“The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world Blessings on the hand of women!”
William Ross Wallace
Women in Uganda began to organize to exercise their political power before independence. In 1960 the Uganda Council of Women passed a resolution urging that laws regarding marriage, divorce, and inheritance should be recorded in written from and publicized nationwide—a first step toward codifying customary and modern practices. During the first decade of independence, this council also pressed for legal reforms that would grant all women the right to own property and retain custody of their children if their marriages ended.
Uganda appointed the first female vice president and the first woman speaker of Parliament on the African continent. Many other women are holding and excelling in high profile offices, purely on merit and not because they are women. 50 years after independence women are taking up more political, economic and social positions in government and private sector, the very reason for us to celebrate this great achievement.
This month we reflect and take stock of the role women play in our society.
Commemorate and Celebrate:
- Who have been the significant women in your life? (Wife, Mom, sisters, grandmother, daughters, colleagues )
- Have you treated them honorably?
- Has your community treated them honorably?
- What is your current state of relationship with them?
- Have you given equal opportunity to both the girls and boys in your family?
Contemplate:
- Looking forward, what are the areas you would like to see improved in the treatment of women in your community?
- What can you personally do to improve the status of women that you are in contact with?
Jubilee Point of Action for the month:
Plan a gift(s) or something special for the significant women in your life in the course of this month and let them know what they mean to you and how much you honor and respect them.
For spiritual and community leaders:
Consider a seminar on the place of women in society and in God’s plan for mankind.
Jubilee Prayer for the month:
Pray that in the next 50 years women in Uganda will rise to their full potential and take up their rightful place in the advancement of our society.
Jubilee Pledge for the month:
I pledge to treat the women in my life and community with dignity and respect as equal citizens.
Remember!
8th March 2012: International Women’s Day