Browsing by Author "Economic Policy Research Centre"

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Adolescent motherhood and maternal deaths in Uganda
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Despite the reduction in the rate of maternal deaths during child birth over the past decade, Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR)remains high compared to other East African countries. At 375 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017, Uganda’s MMR is 51 percent more than that of Rwanda (248 deaths per 100,000 live birth). On the other hand, the major causes of maternal deaths during child birth in Uganda are preventable. Major drivers of maternal deaths include the high prevalence of teenage pregnancy and associated adolescent motherhood as well as inequitable distribution of health facilities across the country.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Burden Of Physical Gender Based Violence In Uganda
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    This brief uses the 2016 UDHS survey to shed light on factors that perpetuate physical gender based violence (GBV). Results of the survey reveal that much of the physical violence is predominantly perpetuated by intimate partners. Women with low education and income are more vulnerable to physical violence in intimate relationships. At the same time, the presence of dependents within the household increases the likelihood of physical violence. We recommend economic empowerment for women through education and skill training in order to address the impacts of physical violence.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Constraints to girls’ access to secondary education in Uganda
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    The Government of Uganda has made significant strides towards achieving Sustainable development goal (SDG) 4 targets—which aims at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. For secondary education, government has heavily invested in Universal Secondary Education (USE) through public-private partnerships and construction of one government aided secondary school per sub-county. These have yielded positive results in terms of increased number of secondary schools in the country and increase in secondary school enrolment. However, the enrolment of girls in secondary schools has persistently been low compared to boys. This is partly attributed to: (a) Parents continue to be the main funders of secondary education; (b) Unfulfilled government goal of one secondary school per sub-county; and (c) Early marriages and teenage pregnancy. In this regard, there is need to: (a) To put in place measures to eliminate or minimize the rampant and growing element of extra cost burden on parents; (b) Take into account the size of sub-counties as well as natural demarcations of islands in allocation of secondary schools; and (c) Intensify awareness in schools and communities on issues regarding dangers of early marriages and teenage pregnancies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Delayed access to justice for sexual gender based violence in Uganda and implications for gender SDG targets.
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Although the number of sexual gender based violence cases has declined during the past five years, prosecution and sanctioning of these cases remain very low. Worse still, cases that make it to the courts of law are characterised by high rates of dismissal and low conviction rates. This brief examines the reasons for this worrying trend and what it implies for attaining gender SDG targets. We recommend measures such as sensitisation, increased financing and staffing of the judicial system, and building infrastructure for testing evidence samples which would help in expediting justice for the victims. In addition, publicising rape and defilement prosecutions cases and handing down tougher sentences would go some way in reversing the impunity by perpetrators to continue such very harmful practices. In addition, we call for investing in investigative infrastructure to facilitate timely prosecution and strengthening of victim and witness support systems to protect victims and eye witnesses
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Enforcement of human trafficking laws: Implications for gender and labour externalization in Uganda.
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    The increased desire by the youth to seek employment opportunities outside Uganda has led to a steady rise in incidents of human trafficking. Indeed, transnational trafficking—a silent and often invisible activity—is by far the most frequent offence committed, largely involving female adults trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation. Evidence from Uganda Police Force shows that notwithstanding the rising incidents of human trafficking, prosecution of this particular criminal remains low. More so, conviction rates are also very low largely due to absence evidence on both perpetrators and victims—especially in cases involving transnational trafficking. This brief examines the progress in enforcing the law on the perpetrators of human trafficking in Uganda. To curb the vice, it recommends measures such as scaling-up sensitization on the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009, labour migration guidelines; enhancing capacity of security agencies to better handle human trafficking cases, and provision of victim services and survivor assistance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    EPRC Annual Report July 2015 - June 2016
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2016) Economic Policy Research Centre
    2015/16 was a momentous financial year for the Economic Policy Research Centre, as Cabinet approved the National Fertiliser Policy for Uganda, its strategy and investment plan, that the Centre had worked on for over five years in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. The policy was endorsed by the Cabinet chaired by the Head of State, President Yoweri Museveni on May 4, 2016.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    External Evaluation of the PEAS Network in Uganda (2015-17)
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2018) Economic Policy Research Centre
    There is an urgent need for more good-quality secondary school places in Uganda, where the net enrolment rate has only climbed to 28%. PEAS has been working to help fill this need since 2008 through the Government of Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education public-private partnership (PPP). This report provides highlights and key findings from a three-year evaluation of PEAS schools, looking specifically at how PEAS has impacted on access to secondary education; quality of learning outcomes; and sustainability of the delivery model, including the cost to educate a child for a year. PEAS is a non-profit network of schools that is mission-driven to contribute to the Government of Uganda’s commitment to extend equitable access to good-quality secondary level education. The PPP entails private schools accepting a government capitation grant of UGX 47,000 per student per term in lieu of school tuition fees, and the programme was meant to incentivise schools to operate in poorer, under-served areas of the country. Despite the claims to universality, the government stipulated a score that young people must achieve on the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in order to qualify for a USE capitation grant. This barrier, combined with the continuing imperative to pay certain fees and costs, has meant that many students are still not able to transition to secondary level.The PPP has attracted criticism surrounding the quality of education on offer at partner schools, and the efficiency of providing education in this way. An evaluation was needed to establish whether PEAS schools have proven worth the subsidy and are achieving their stated mission.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    How can Uganda address gender data gaps in the land sector?
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Land is one of the most important resource held by Ugandans. However, the lack of real time, clear and accurate disaggregated gender statistics has repeatedly made it a challenge to develop policy responses to inequalities faced by women in Uganda. Indeed, reliable gender disaggregated statistics are fundamental in highlighting the disparities in land rights between men and women, and monitoring the progress of policy formulations for gender equality in the land tenure system. This brief illustrates the extent of gender data gaps with respect to land rights in Uganda. It underscores the urgent need for the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD) to capture gender disaggregated data on land ownership and utilization. The gender data gaps can be addressed through sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders on collection of gender disaggregated data in the land sector.How can Uganda address gender data gaps in the land sector?
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing In Education
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Due to the shift from sector based budgeting to programme based budgeting, the education sector lies under the human capital development programme. The brief therefore asseses the contribution of the education sector to the new HCD programmes as articulated in the NDPIII. The education sector is a critical component towards achieving human capital aspirations of building teachers and learners’ capacity as articulated in the recently approved third National Development Plan (NDP) III. Given the coronavirus pandemic and the associated school closures, ensuring that all formally enrolled children return to school will be critical during FY 2021/22.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing in Health
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Due to the shift from Sector Based to Programme Based Budgeting, the health sector lies under the Human Capital Development programme. The brief therefore asseses the contribution of the health sector to the new HCD programmes as articulated in the NDPIII. The health sector is a critical component towards achieving the Human Capital Development Programme goal of increasing the population’s productivity through strategic investment. Since March 2020, health has taken up a prominent role in the development discourse due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing in Human Capital Development
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    In line with the shift from Sector Based Budgeting to Programme Based Budgeting, the Human Capital Development programme is a new programme that covers sectors of Water and Environment Sector, Education, Health, and Social Development. This brief therefore assesses FY 2021/22 budget allocation to the HCD programme with a focus on the four highlighted sectors. In the FY 2021/22, in line with the NDP III, the Government will pursue resource-led industrialization, anchored on increasing production, expansion of the industrial base for value addition and exports for viable agricultural and mineral commodities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing in Justice, Law And Order (JLOS)
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Due to the shift from Sector Based Budgeting to Programme Based Budgeting, the justice law and order sector lies under the Governance and Security programme of the third National Development Plan. The brief therefore assesses the contribution of the JLOS sector to the new HCD programmes as articulated in the NDPIII.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing in Social Development
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    In line with the change in the budgeting approach from sector to programme based budgeting, the social development sector lies under the Governance and Security programme, the Human Capital Development and the Community Mobilization and Mindset Change programmes of the third National Development Plan. This brief therefore assesses the contribution of the social development sector to the new Governance and Security programme as articulated in the NDPIII
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investing in Water and Environment
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Due to the shift from Sector Based Budgeting to Programme Based Budgeting, the water and environment sector lies under the Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change, Land and Water Management Development programme, the Agro-industrialization programme and the Human Capital Development programmes of the third National Development Plan. This brief therefore assesses the contribution of the water and environment sector to the new Governance and Security programme as articulated in the NDPIII.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Will the lack of gender disaggregated statistics affect the attainment of energy SDGs in Uganda?
    (Economic Policy Research Centre, 2020) Economic Policy Research Centre
    Availability of gendered energy statistics is critical to guide decision makers and practitioners in the gender-responsive policy making and implementation at both national and sub-national levels. However, during the implementation of SDG 7 on “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” in Uganda, we observe key gender statistics gaps in: (a) access to electricity, (b) regional progress in use of electricity for lighting, (c) developments in Uganda’s lighting systems, and (d) cooking energy, which are likely to impede the country’s achievement of equal access to energy and reporting on SDG 5 “leave no one behind”. There is need to include systematic gender disaggregated data collection and analysis as part of programming for the energy sub-sector. There is need to build capacity on integration of energy gender statistics in survey tools.