Irene Nabusoba, Anthony Bugembe and Ben Okiror
15 September 2008
Kampala — PRIME Minister Apolo Nsibambi has urged the public to discard harmful cultural practices against women like female inheritance if the country is to check the rapidly growing population.
While launching the revised National Population Policy at Sheraton Hotel on Friday, Nsibambi said several couples end up with many children as they search for boys.
"Family planning involves making very hard decisions. Although we have five girls in my family, Esther and I have decided not to have any more children. Rhoda, my eldest daughter, will be my heir.
"Some Baganda here are now cursing me but Article 33 of the Constitution gives men and women equal dignity. That is why we should disregard biased cultural practices," he said.
The 2008 population policy, under the theme 'social transformation and sustainable development, is a revision of the 1995 policy.
The revision by the Population Secretariat was geared towards addressing the emerging challenges of the growing population.
"As our population grows, we need to ensure that it is educated, skilled, healthy and employed," Nsibambi noted, adding that the policy will enable the country to benefit from the growing population.
With an annual growth rate of 3.2%, Uganda's population is projected to reach 55 million by 2025 and 130 million by 2050. The current population is estimated to be 30 million. On average, every Ugandan woman gives birth to seven children.
"About 41% of married women who want to either space or stop giving birth cannot access family planning services. The level of contraceptive use is also very low at 24%," said Charles Zirarema, the head of policy and planning in the population secretariate.
"The new policy focuses on family planning, on child spacing and the prevention of risky pregnancies. We shall also focus on reduction of infant and child mortality," added Zirarema.
He further noted that in order to advocate for improved nutrition and food security, plus increased household incomes, the policy calls for appropriate food processing, preservation and storage at household level.
"It also seeks to promote positive health-seeking behaviour by encouraging male involvement in reproductive health," he said.
Popular versions of the policy will be launched in 40 districts this year, with a focus on regional population needs that require urgent attention.
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