Uganda’s final report of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census offers a detailed snapshot of the nation’s demographic, economic and social landscape and more importantly sheds light on a critical issue often overlooked: waste management.
With the country’s population at 45.9 million, the report highlights both the scale of the challenge and its implications for public health and the environment. In particular, the findings point to widespread improper waste disposal methods that disproportionately affect rural communities, as well as growing concerns about electronic waste and the strain on urban infrastructure.
Improper Waste Disposal: A Widespread Problem
The census reveals that 91.6 per cent of households—equivalent to nearly 9.8 million households—rely on improper methods to dispose of solid waste. Common practices include using rubbish pits, and burning, or dumping waste in gardens and unsupervised locations. This issue is far more pronounced in rural areas, where 98.3 per cent of households dispose of waste improperly, compared to 81.8 per cent in urban areas.
The Madi sub-region reported the highest levels of improper disposal (99.4 per cent), while Kampala city showed the lowest (41.8 per cent). Despite Kampala’s relatively better performance, its urban waste systems remain severely underdeveloped, struggling to cope with the daily production of over 600 tonnes of waste.
Most Common Waste Disposal Methods
Across Uganda, the most popular method of waste disposal is using rubbish pits, which account for 51.2 per cent of households. Rural areas favor pits (52.7 per cent) as well as dumping in bushes (18.2 per cent) and gardens (16 per cent).
In urban areas, waste disposal methods are slightly more structured, with 10.4 per cent of households relying on waste vendors for collection and 7.7 per cent using supervised local dumps.
However, even in urban areas, infrastructure gaps persist. The high reliance on burning waste (6.8 per cent) and other unsanctioned methods reflects the lack of accessible and affordable waste disposal services for many urban residents.
Electronic Waste: A Growing Concern
The census also highlights the growing challenge of electronic waste (e-waste). About 18.8 per cent of households reported having at least one non-functional electronic or electrical device, such as mobile phones, televisions, or batteries. This issue is most acute in Kampala, where 27.4 per cent of households had e-waste, compared to 12 per cent in Karamoja.
The improper disposal of e-waste poses unique environmental and health risks, including soil and water contamination from toxic materials like lead and mercury. Despite these risks, Uganda lacks a comprehensive strategy for e-waste management, leaving communities vulnerable to long-term harm.
Public Health and Environmental Impacts
Improper waste disposal has severe repercussions for public health and the environment. Blocked drainage channels, often caused by household waste, exacerbate urban flooding and create breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, flies, and rodents. This contributes to outbreaks of malaria, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
Improper waste management also accelerates climate change, as decomposing organic waste releases significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Without intervention, these challenges will likely worsen, straining public health systems and undermining environmental sustainability.
Kampala’s Waste Management Crisis
Kampala stands at the epicenter of Uganda’s waste management challenges. Producing over 600 metric tonnes of waste daily, the city’s inadequate infrastructure and chronic underfunding have created a precarious situation.
The problem came to a head in August 2024, when a garbage landslide at the Kiteezi landfill claimed at least 35 lives. This tragedy has intensified calls for urgent reforms.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Uganda recently secured a $600 million aid package from the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD). The funding will focus on improving waste management infrastructure in Kampala, addressing long- standing safety concerns, and enhancing the city’s capacity to handle its growing waste burden.
Steps Toward Improvement
The Kiteezi landfill disaster underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive waste management strategy in Kampala and beyond. With the financial aid package now approved, the following measures are critical: Expanding infrastructure is critical, requiring the construction of new waste disposal facilities and the upgrading of existing ones to ensure safe and efficient waste management.
Strengthening regulations is equally important, with the enforcement of stricter guidelines for waste disposal, particularly for electronic waste, to mitigate environmental and health risks.
Public education campaigns should be launched to increase awareness about proper waste disposal practices and highlight the dangers of improper methods. These initiatives are especially crucial in rural areas, where improper waste management is most prevalent.
Recycling programs for both solid and electronic waste need to be promoted as a key strategy to reduce dependency on landfills and minimize waste accumulation.
Urban areas also require targeted interventions to improve waste collection systems. This includes scaling up the capacity of waste vendors and supervising local dumps to meet the growing demands of urban residents, ensuring that waste is collected and disposed of in a timely and environmentally sound manner.
OTHER FINDINGS
Population Growth and Structure
According to the final census report, Uganda’s population has grown at an average annual rate of 2.9 percent since 2014, with the total population now standing at 45,905,417. Of this number, 22.3 million are males and 23.6 million are females. Children below the age of 18 make up half of the population, reflecting a youthful demographic profile. In contrast, only 5 percent of the population is aged 60 and above.
The country’s population density has risen to 190 persons per square kilometer, with urban centers experiencing significant daytime population increases. For instance, Kampala remains the most densely populated city during the day, hosting 2.5 million people, while Fort Portal recorded the lowest daytime population at 176,994.
Education and Literacy Trends
Uganda has made strides in education, with 74 per cent of the population aged 10 and above being literate. Literacy levels are higher among males (76.6 per cent) compared to females (71.6 per cent).
Primary school attendance is widespread, with 75 per cent of children aged 6–12 years enrolled, while secondary school attendance is slightly lower at 62 per cent for those aged 13–18 years.
Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Nearly 20 per cent of the population aged 10 and above has no formal education. Early childhood education (ECE) attendance is also low, with just 41.6% of children aged 3–5 years enrolled.
Housing and Living Standards
The census reveals mixed progress in housing and living conditions. About 66 per cent of households live in owner-occupied dwellings, with 24.8 per cent renting their homes. Most households reside in structures with iron sheet roofs (75 per cent) and brick walls (60.7 per cent), but only 31 per cent have cement-screed floors.
Access to basic services has improved. 81.1 per cent of households now have access to improved water sources, while 53.4 per cent use electricity (25.3 per cent from the national grid and 28.1 per cent from solar power). However, sanitation remains a challenge, with 43.6 per cent of households having improved sanitation facilities and 28.3 per cent using shared toilets.
Energy use for cooking remains a concern, as only 3.8 per cent of households rely on clean energy sources. The majority still use traditional methods, which have implications for health and the environment.
Health and Well-being
Uganda’s health indicators show notable improvements alongside persistent challenges. Life expectancy at birth has risen to 68.2 years, with women living longer (70.1 years) than men (66.9 years). Infant mortality has dropped to 34 deaths per 1,000 live births, while under-five mortality stands at 46 deaths per 1,000 live births.
However, the census highlights mental health concerns, with 12 per cent of individuals aged 10 and above experiencing psychological distress. Health insurance coverage remains critically low, with only 1.1 per cent of the population covered.
Economic and Employment Trends
Uganda’s workforce continues to expand, with 57.4 per cent of the population (25.5 million people) falling within the working-age group. The unemployment rate, however, stands at 12.3 per cent, and 42.6 per cent of youth aged 15–24 are not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
The census also highlights disparities in household economies. About 33.1 per cent of households operate within a subsistence economy, while 66.9 per cent are engaged in the money economy. Among subsistence households, 23.5 per cent reported benefiting from the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to improve rural livelihoods.
Religious Affiliation and Social Dynamics
Religion remains a significant aspect of Ugandan identity, with Christians making up the majority (81.7 per cent) of the population, followed by Muslims (13.2 per cent). Roman Catholics lead in numbers, with 16.6 million adherents, followed by Anglicans (13.3 million) and Pentecostals/Evangelicals (6.5 million). Notably, the number of Pentecostals has grown significantly since 2014.
Marriage patterns reveal that 50.6 per cent of adults aged 18 and above are married, while 26.6 per cent are cohabiting. Birth registration remains low, with only 11.4 per cent of individuals having a birth certificate, although 31.8 per cent have a birth notification document.
ICT and Connectivity
Technology adoption is growing but remains uneven. 43.3 per cent of individuals aged 10 and above own a mobile phone, while 9 per cent use the internet, primarily for social networking. Only 4 per cent of households own a computer, underscoring the digital divide, particularly in rural areas.
Fertility and Mortality Patterns
Uganda’s total fertility rate has declined to 4.5 children per woman, down from 5.8 in 2014. The crude birth rate is 33.2 births per 1,000 population, reflecting gradual demographic shifts. Adolescent childbearing remains a concern, with 7 percent of girls aged 10–19 having begun childbearing.
Migration and Displacement
Migration patterns reveal significant internal and external movements. Regions such as Buganda and Bunyoro experienced population inflows, while Kigezi and Kampala saw net outflows. Uganda also hosts 1.02 million immigrants, nearly half of whom are from South Sudan.
Agriculture and Land Ownership
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, with 62.3 per cent of households engaged in farming. Most agricultural activity is for home consumption (80.2 per cent), with crop-growing being the primary focus. Land ownership is widespread, with 30 per cent of adults owning land, and over half of these owners possessing title deeds or legal documentation.
Disability Prevalence
Disability prevalence stands at 3.4 per cent of the population, with common disabilities including vision, hearing and mobility impairments. The census also identified 78,876 individuals with albinism and 194,271 little persons aged 18 and above.
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