Outcome UGA_D_2.1

Women have increased productivity, income and access to resources

As per 2024 Uganda National Population and Housing census, 25,494,490 persons (57.4%) were in the working age group 15 years and above. The number of females (14,181,219) in the working age group was higher than that of males (11,313,271). Kampala Capital City had the highest percentage (69.8%) of their population in the working age group 15+ while Karamoja sub Region had the least percentage (49.6%) of working age population. Among persons aged 14-64, the Employment to Population Ratio (EPR) was 37.5 with a higher share among males( 43.0%) than females (33.1%). Unemployment rate was 12.3% among persons aged 15 and above with a higher share among females (14.2%) than males at 10.5%. National context analysis showed that 1.4 million (12.6%) of the population aged 14-64 years were unemployed with a higher rate for females (14.5%) than males (10.7%). Youth unemployment rate was higher among females (18.7%) compared to males (14.7%). Education attainment differentials showed that the highest youth unemployment rate was among persons who had completed secondary level of education (22.6%). Based on national context, 48.8 percent of the unemployed youth, aged 18-30, had been looking for work or trying to start a business for over one year. Of the total population, 7,392,769 (16.7%) owned land. Disaggregation by age groups showed that 50.6percent of persons aged 60 years and above owned land, while less than four percent (3.9%) of children (0-17 years) owned land. Findings further showed that 6,618,715 persons aged 18 and above owned land, whereas 15,616,273 do not own. Among the adult males, 36.7percent owned land and among the adult females, 24.4 percent owned land.

Women have increased productivity, income and access to resources

Land and access to capital remain the major factors of production in Uganda. However, according to the UBOS 2024 report, women account for 24% of adult landowners in Uganda, compared to 37% for adult males. Only 31% of women own land legally registered in their names compared to the national average which is 58%. The significant disparity in land ownership between men and women, is largely influenced by deeply entrenched social and cultural norms that favor men. Due to funding constraints, in 2025, UN Women did not have targeted programming on enhancing land rights for women. However, awareness raising on social cultural norms that limit women from owning land like issues of inheritance were addressed during community sensitizations and community dialogues. Through collaboration with Stanbic Bank, some groups in the refugee settlements were linked to financial institutions however the process of registering the groups was still ongoing. Having bank accounts strengthens the group’s ability to access credit from financial institutions. Results of the engagement with Stanbic and other final institutions will be reported in future reports.

Women have increased productivity, income and access to resources

Wome still have limited control over factors of production compared to men. In agriculture, where most of the population is employed, only 39% of women have rights over the land that they cultivate. In 2023, the women's economic empowerment programme did not have resources for implementation. Most of the programme's effort went in to resource mobilization.