Sometimes, when things are tight, I check my pockets, hoping against hope, to even find legal tender. Other times, I check under my sitting room sofa, but alas – nothing! Then I am tempted to ask any friend whether they have “a loose” UGX 50,000 to help me with! I always ask m ysdelf this question; when I am broke, am I poor, or is it just that money has not yet come my way? It’s a conundrum I tell you.
As of early 2022, Uganda achieved lower-middle-income status as recognised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This is an improvement in the country’s Human Development Index (HDI), which assesses factors such as income levels, health, and education. Uganda’s HDI ranking improved from 166 in 2022 to 159 in 2024 out of 193 countries and territories.
The World Bank (WB) classifies lower-middle-income economies as those with a GNI per capita between $1,086 and $4,255 as of 2023. Uganda’s advancement to this category aligns with its development goals and Vision 2040.
Ofcourse, we have our own challenges like corruption! Though, we have Agencies that deal with that, so we hope it shall be done away with. There’s also income inequalities and disparities, just to mention a few. Government increased investment in initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) to ensure inclusive growth and equitable development because, when people are engaged in business, the tax base increases as well.
But, I have always been disturbed by another organisation or entity deciding to classify us as a lower-middle-income economy, there’s an element of control. If I am skinny and you tell me I am fat, what in the world justifies your conclusion – my eyeballs?? Its why being self sufficient, as a nation, is the way to go. So I ask myself, shall I attain the real middle income status after I rob a bank code-named: Gone In 60 Seconds?!
