RADIO TALK SHOW ABOUT UGANDAN INCOME STATUS

UBOS VISA VIS WORLD BANK RATING

The president of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after the Budget Speech showed the will to get to the Middle Income Status but the means have to be analysed further. Political will and commitment but “You don't award yourself marks in an assessment or Exam, you will be disappointed” simply because what you wish is not what you have at the time.

The method of assessment was presented in the first World Development Report (World Bank, 1978), and its origins can be traced even further back. In 1965, for instance, a published essay “The Future of the World Bank” used gross national product (GNP) per capita to classify countries as very poor(low income), poor(lower middle income), middle income(upper middle income), and rich( high income) (Reid,1965) used since 1989. It divides countries into four groups and —using gross national income (GNI) per capita valued annually in US dollars using a three-year average exchange rate (World Bank, 1989) adjusted each year in line with price inflation. The classification is revised once a year on July 1, at the start of the World Bank fiscal year.

The World Bank uses the income classification in World Development Indicators (WDI) and other presentations of data; the main purpose is analysis.

World Bank is a Monitor for World development and continues to do the same work every year based on GNI per Capita in the selected countries.

The world's Middle Income Countries (MICs) are a diverse group by size, population, and income level. They are lower middle-income economies - those with a GNI per capita between $1,036 or UGX 3,833,200 and $4,045 or UGX 14,966,500; and upper middle-income economies - those with a GNI per capita between $4,046 UGX  14,966,500 and $12,535 or UGX 46,379,500 (2021). Middle income countries are home to 75% of the world’s population and 62% of the world’s poor. At the same time, MICs represent about one third of global GDP and are major engines of global growth.

Uganda's Total exports increased by 11.5 percent in February 2021 to US$ 413.6 million from US$ 370.8 million recorded in January 2021. Total imports flows increased by 21.3%

Uganda tax base 21.6 TN for the year ended June 2022 short of the 22.5TN Target from Domestic Taxes which is meant to finance Uganda’s budget of UGX 44tn for the Financial Year 2022/2023.

Debt standing at 52% of GDP, which puts the majority of the citizen’s financial status in limbo.

While lower MICs struggle with the provision of basic necessities, such as clean water and food, look at Karamoja.... 44 people dead because of hunger and yet Uganda is a home for food but planning is still a challenge where Human Rights Based Approach needs to be considered in allocation and distribution of resources.

A nation or state is as Good as her Population and as it stands The state of Health is still below the level of middle Income - Medicine so lacking, Mothers still dying while giving birth, Children dying of malnutrition, Social Services are still lacking in quality because of Capitalism than Socialism.

Education Standards determine the state of a nation. Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation” and “No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated”

Uganda still have issues with the Education policies; labs with no apparatus, schools with no structures, libraries with old books, limited access to internet in schools not mentioning the SRHR information and Sexuality Education.

Leaders need to look at production than consumption / dependence economy through practical experience. Where is the market? Agricultural products have no value, when is the value chain going to be improved? How are Industries and Factories regionally distributed?

Unemployment Rate in Uganda is expected to reach 3.10% by the end of 2022, while Kenya is already 2.5%, TZ 2.6%.

Upper MICs tend to face larger governance-related problems, such as rampant corruption, Monetization of elections/dictatorship

Recommendations

 ·         Industrial Development should be priority for income and social development considering the  Regional Hubs for industrialization.

 ·         Income gap among the citizenry should be translated into people's pockets. Improve the social services to the population and reduce expenditures on Health from out of pocket to Health Insurance

 ·         Inflationary tendencies - pricing and price controls and subsidies on the social services. The Government and Ministry of Finance can control this.

 ·         Human Rights based Approach should be key in the planning process. Do grassroots research for better management and ownership to ensure no one is left behind as opposed to the expert model where desk research is just done to complete the task with no grass root involvement and participation.

 ·         Increase the commitment to fight corruption in all MDAs and Systems and institute heavy punitive measures because corruption kills citizens.

ACCESS TO SRHR INFORMATION AND SERVICES IN KIGEZI SUB REGION

 

ACCESS TO SRHR INFORMATION AND SERVICES IN KIGEZI SUB REGION

BACKGROUND

There is still a challenge with accessibility of SRHR information and Services at most of the Centres and Units all around Kigezi Sub Region

LOSCO in Partnership with CEHURD /COPASAH came in with an effort where a Hybrid Dialogue was conducted involving the Duty Bearers, Community Leaders and Health Service Providers to address the issue in a comprehensive manner. A consensus was reached appreciating that these services are still insufficient in most of the health units and urgently needs to be addressed to prevent the risky Maternal Mortality rates in Kigezi Sub region.

This was seen to have been partly responsible for the rise up of Teenage Pregnancies in Kigezi Sub Region because of the myths the youths and parents still believe in and limitation in movements for the services. This is also attributed to the mysterious deaths of youths and mothers due to un safe abortions.

A report was shared and the next steps suggested to the lead implementers of health Programs, there was a Media engagement to further spread the information and all this was coupled with a Radio Talk Show with the Local Leaders and the DHO that took up the responsibility to have this addressed with colleagues in the sector. Apparently Kabale District Local Government is following it through the Human Rights Based Approach in all program Areas and SRHR is considered among others like social justice and climate change.

LESSONS

LOSCO observed that even the Leaders in the Health sector undermined the power of information and appreciated the intervention which should ultimately be cascaded out of the Health Centres to Communities that include schools and institutions of learning.

From the Implementation, LOSCO learnt and is from the subsequent engagements still learning that Participatory approach to the interventions is critical for the sustainability of the positive results if SRHR is to make meaning in not only youth livelihoods but also amongst the parents and communities

The best practice is using the Human rights based approach that will promote inclusivity where no one is left behind along the eco system of interventions and service delivery.

Other than the Traditional Norms and Values that Bakiga believe so much in, there is a challenge when it comes to consistence in our efforts to deconstruct the narrative that comprehensive sexuality education will be the best if not the only way out. LOSCO’s Capacity is still limited in the financial aspect of things. Every other issue is taken care of except that one.

LOSCO is however adopting the aspect of partnerships where different entities have been approached that include New Partners in Environmental Conservation to include SRHR information. Also LOSCO’s HRE Programming includes SRHR as a cross cutting issue when it comes to Addressing the Gender Inclusivity and Intersectionality approach. A coalition is soon to be established that will address Climate Change and SRHR is at the centre of Programming where RHU will be on board to support with Experience.

 

PROGRAM IMPLICATION

This will be scaled up through increasing Access to Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) services and information for all through community mobilisation in Kigezi Sub Region and also continuous awareness raising and promoting Health Service equity among the populations through social mobilization and accountability by citizens with good governance in health that are rights based. Otherwise it remains at a local level.

For this Scale up to materialize, there is need to consider taking the HRB SRHR Information Sharing to Schools and Institutions, Consistent radio talk shows targeting the working class and parents in their homes, engaging the duty bearers on a regular basis building their capacity and zeal to influence policy formulation on the same.

For the implementation to impact SRHR programming broadly, there must be intentional messaging targeting specific audiences and this be done on a regular basis because for mindset change, consistence is key.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To partners;

There has to be continuous Advocacy with Evidence and relationship building with stakeholders through continuous engagements

Ensure Compliance with the Law so the Advocacy efforts are not watered down through noncompliance crackdown

Need to work closely with the Communities especially the leaders and create partnership with governments in their regions

To the coalition:

Has to intentionally scale up if resources allow to cover a wider area (all regions)

Design uniform Messages to target different Audiences and all languages and disseminate  through members

Train some media Houses and Journalists on the best way to bring the message home and intentionally select the Media Houses and Channels to use for a broader reach depending on the regions.

Offer support and referral information access points for more information

MoH;

Institute health corners for the young and key populations at all health units

Build capacity for VHTs to play a more supportive role than the usual routine work.

Train the Government Health Providers in providing specialised care and information services

Funders;

Support the initiatives partners are implementing like Medical Outreaches (Grassroots Approach), Information sharing materials and efforts