Economic Growth
Uganda’s Economic Growth Situation.
56.4% of Uganda’s population was below the national poverty line in 1993, but this decreased to 19.7% by 2013. Therefore, Uganda remains among the poorest nations in the world despite reducing the poverty rate.
Uganda’s national poverty line has been fixed at US$0.88–US$1.04 since 1990. This measure is much lower than the World Bank’s international figure of US$1.90. Therefore, Uganda’s poverty estimate of 21.7% in 2016 is much lower than the 41.7% in 2016 calculated using the global measure of extreme poverty.
There are gaps in Uganda’s poverty data. This has mainly been concentrated at the national and regional level with no official publication of district and lower level poverty statistics since 2014.
Uganda’s second National Development Plan from 2015 to 2020 had focused on agriculture, tourism, mineral extraction, oil and gas, infrastructure and human capital, intending to transform the country into a middle-income country by 2020. Unfortunately, this has not been achieved, and Uganda remains a low-income country with a new target set for 2030.
How is Joy for Humanity Responding?
It is no good supporting education and health if the community cannot afford to pay for their health and Education. For the last four years, we have supported the community to look for ways to increase their income.
This support will continue to be a model in the future.
We partner with the community by training community members through the Rural Education & Action for Development (READ) project.
This project demonstrates that formal and informal Education can change communities to break the cycle of generational poverty, eliminating gender inequality, prevention of unnecessary diseases and deaths, foster a sustainable planet, and promote peace.
We teach our community members to care for animals and raise them correctly. The profits from the sale of these animals (from chickens, pigs, and even goats) stay with the family members who raised them and we also encourage a saving spirit.
Each family is coached through the process so that all questions are answered and supported through the process.
Chickens
As a team, we have built three model chicken houses that can keep 1,200 chicks. This works as a model training centre for our community members. First, the community purchased “layers”, but these proved difficult to care for in a way that returned a health profit. 18 months ago we changed to Kuroilers which are grown for sale in the local market.
By controlling the whole process of growing and selling in the market, the community farming team are now making a surplus to re-invest in future chickens and other projects. This reflects a sustainable growth model for the team, and looking forward to promoting it in the community.
Anifah's Story
Anifah Nalumansi’s family received two piglets (male and female ) in November 2019 with other Self Empowerment Group Members. This family has looked after the project very well and last year they sold the boar. The income helped to cater for family needs and a small amount was also saved.
In February 2021, Anifah’s sow gave birth and the happiness witnessed in this family is beyond measure. They now have hope and are more energised to develop this project and even get more incoming generating activities to completely change their lives.
Please support our Economic Growth initiative to help increase family incomes like Anifah’s!
Pigs
We have worked with a different model with pigs. As seed funding, we have now given 12 families a couple of piglets and built 12 pigsties in the community of members land. So far, every family that has been involved has looked after the pigs well, and they are now starting to have litters. The community members give two piglets (male and female) away to another family from each litter. It is hoped that this will lead to the organic growth of this project without much funding. This has been growing for one year, and it is looking positive at the moment.
Rural Non-Farm (RNF) Enterprises.
As the school prospers and the Health Centre becomes a centre of the community, we are looking to fund at least ten families to start their own businesses. For example outside the Health Centre will be an organised opportunity for people to sell goods for the people in the health centre – food, general hygiene items etc. Maybe we will find someone interested in providing low-cost accommodation for relatives of patients staying in the Health Centre.
We are exploring all possible ideas through RNF to supplement household incomes in the community.