Climatic changes (22%) and low crop yields (15%), an increase in the price of commodities (9%), and low income (9%), are some of the reasons for the deteriorating standards of living and rising costs of living, says the report.
“These different responses highlight that individual citizens and households face different circumstances according to a range of factors… However, this should not disguise the fact that overall, citizens report that making a living is becoming harder,” the report adds.
Other reasons for the increased difficulty in Ugandans securing their basic needs are a dearth of employment opportunities, a Sahara of capital for investment, declining education, and widespread corruption among others as the leading causes of poverty, notes the report.
The report provides a solution to ameliorate this situation in the shape of the government’s increased capital investment and a willful effort to re-route corruption on wheels down the road less travelled, paved by penalties for those involved in it and rewards for those against it.
“The macro figures look impressive but we have found out that these figures do not normally translate into better lives of the individuals. People are still struggling with things like rent, school fees, and medical bills among others. And these have hurt their daily lives,” said Marie Marie Hilda Nanyanzi, a Senior Program Officer at Twaweza in charge of Sauti za Wananchi.
She concedes that although indeed many Ugandans are now part of the money market, most of their incomes are nullified by the high cost of living
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