Mukono — UGANDA's population is expected to reach 40 million putting a severe strain on the environment and other resources if the government does not take serious measures to control the current increase rate.

Uganda's population has been increasing rapidly over the years. In 1948, we had a population of only 5 million people. Now the country has a population of 24.7 million.

The United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mr Cornelis Klein, said the population growth would affect the environment since the majority of the people were based in rural areas and depend on exploiting natural resources for survival.

"Rapid population growth and increase per capita usage has made the demand for water a problem. Many districts are expecting firewood shortage increasing both the price and distance women and children travel to collect it. Over 90 percent of the population depends on wood as their primary source of energy," he said.

Klein was on Wednesday speaking during the launch of the Uganda Human Development report 2005 at Ridar Hotel, in Mukono.

The theme of the day was " Linking Environment to Development: A Deliberate Choice".

He said the report is the sixth in a series of reports on the country's trend in human development.

"The report is the outcome of a wide participatory and consultative process that involved the government, parliamentarians, the academia, development partners and the civil society.

UNDP in collaboration with the government is conducting a series of regional workshops on the report to ensure that we break away from the traditional approach of launching the report only in Kampala.

The report shows that Uganda has made progress in human development.

In 2003, the Human Development Index showed an improvement in literacy levels and life expectancy.

According to UNDP's Senior Economic Adviser, Mr Alexander Abogoya, the report indicates that the gap between the poor and the rich is continuing to widen. "Interventions to improve livelihoods should therefore focus on rural areas and specifically agriculture on which most people depend," he said.

Participants included LC5 chairpersons, resident district commissioners and district environment officers, among others.