Africa economy
Uganda entered the middle income countries?
Audio 02:23
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, January 16, 2022. REUTERS - ABUBAKER LUBOWA
By: Charlotte Cosset Follow
2 mins
For several weeks, a controversy has shaken the Ugandan public debate.
It follows President Museveni's State of the Nation address in early July.
On this occasion, the Ugandan President indicated that average per capita incomes have recently reached those of middle-income countries.
Figures different from those published by the World Bank, which sparked many reactions in the country.
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From our correspondent in Kampala,
In this remote village in the northwest of the country located in the oil region, Jeramaya, a retired teacher, has embarked on a major house project with the money from compensation.
For him, there is no doubt that the living conditions of Ugandans have improved: “
I lived in the 1960s and 1970s, and I think I can say that we have reached this status.
Our daily life has improved.
Now the majority of people eat what they want and no longer just what is available.
»
And for the authorities, there is no doubt: the forthcoming oil production should enable the country to be counted among the countries with middle incomes.
Honey Malinga is the Petroleum Sector Director at the Ministry of Energy.
“
If you had visited this region in 1992 and compared it to today
,” he says, “
you would see a big difference in terms of infrastructure, in addition to other interventions that have been carried out.
For sure, it will change the standard of living of Ugandans
.
»
But on the ground, the situation seems more complex.
The north-east of the country is currently affected by a major food crisis, and in many regions, people are denouncing difficulties in accessing healthcare or even education.
Onesmus Mugenyi of the civil society organization ACODE [Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment]: “
There are parameters used to define whether a country has moved from the category of low income country to middle income.
These parameters are known and we know that they have not yet been reached.
We do not think we have reached this stage of average income
.
»
For Hennery Sebukeera from the National Planning Authority, “
We had technical discussions between the World Bank and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
And we pointed out some differences that have been harmonized.
»
According to him,
the misunderstanding would come from a divergence in methodology: “
It's not a point of contention, it's simply a question of how everyone communicates.
And I think the World Bank and the Bureau of Statistics communicate based on their views of what they're measuring.
»
In response to this announcement, Ugandans published many illustrations, humorous or serious, of their daily reality.
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Economy Africa
Africa
Uganda
Yoweri Museveni