Poverty Rate Increased in Acholi by over 34 Percent within a decade, according to Gov’t
By our reporter
Government has revealed that poverty rates in Acholi sub region increased by 34.3 within a decade despite the several interventions to address it.
According to figures by government, in the 2012/2013 financial year, poverty rate in sub region was at 45.5 percent.
But it reduced to 33.4 percent in 2016/2017 financial year.
However, it shoot up to 67.7 percent in the financial year 2019/2020.
This indicate that between 2012 and 2020, poverty rate increased in Acholi sub region by 34.3 percent.
According to the 2022 Multi-dimensional Poverty Index report, 63.3 percent of people in Acholi sub are poor.
This indicates that the sub region has the second highest number of poor people in the country after Karamoja.
The Karamoja was ranked the sub region highest number of poor people in the country at 84.9 percent.
West Nile sub region is third with 59.1 followed by Lango sub region at 57. percent, and Teso with 55.6 percent, in that order.
Meanwhile, Kigezi was at 48.4 percent and Bunyoro with 45.7 percent.
South Buganda was ranked as the sub region with the lowest number of poor people at just 18 percent.
The researchers in their survey looked access to education, health and housing among others.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabanjja attributed the high levels of poverty in the former war-ravaged area to low productivity.
Ms Nabanjja explains that as the region recovers from the effects of the over decades’ long LRA led insurgency, the retuning communities are embroiled in violent land conflict instead of engaging in productive activities.
She noted that has resulted into low productivity hence lack of opportunities to tackle poverty.
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Caption: A group men enjoying locally brewed gin at Lalogi Trading Centre in Lalogi Sub County, Omoro district
