Uganda
The Facts
- The population is 24.7 million people
- 1 in 7 children dies before they reach their 5th birthday
- Average life expectancy is 44 years
- 33% of adults are illiterate.
Uganda is also one of the few countries in the developing world where HIV prevalence is decreasing, due to their positive response to the disease in the 1990s.
However the poorest 20% of Ugandans have benefited the least from recent peace and relative prosperity.
Poor people still suffer from food shortages and lack of access to clean water.
In the north and west of the country, rebel fighting continues to seriously affect the livelihoods of poor people, as well as killing thousands of people every year. More than one and a half million displaced people are living in camps.
ActionAid in Uganda
ActionAid International has been working in Uganda since 1982 and now work with over 200 partners on a number of poverty reduction initiatives. We currently support over 260,000 families.
Our programme work focusses on
- Education
- HIV & AIDS
- Peace-building
- Farming and food
- Women’s rights
We work alongside poor communities and with local and national organisations to ensure poor people acquire the skills to influence policy and decision-making to achieve their basic needs and rights.
Related research and publications
Uganda country report (PDF)

