The World Bank has today released the 14th Uganda Economic Update which has focused on social protection systems in Uganda and proposes a more effective approach to reduce vulnerability and to support more inclusive growth.

The report indicates that the coverage and design of social protection programs are currently insufficient to meaningfully address the range and scope of vulnerabilities to shocks in Uganda.

It indicates that the existing direct income support programs in Uganda have low coverage, with the overall reach of the two main programs at only 3% of the population – which is very low given the needs in the country. Direct income support reaches more than 6 percent of the population in neighboring Kenya.

The report was officially launched at Kiswa Health Centre in Kampala. Kiswa centre is a Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) facility that provides free healthcare to 250 outpatients every day, mostly from very low income families living around Bugolobi, Nakawa, Kinawataka, Mbuya, Kitintale – underlining the importance of social protection.

Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi attended the launch and thanked the World Bank for sharing research that’s needed in making key economic and development decisions. He stressed that research is key to any country’s development. He said it was time the political class start thinking about social protection as much they do physical infrastructure.

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