In Africa, 16 straight years of positive economic growth is certainly something to be proud of. And that’s exactly what Uganda has achieved, a sparkling performance matched only by Botswana and Mauritius. As a consequence, the total number of Ugandans living in poverty plummeted from well over half of the population at the start of the 1990s down to 34% of the population by the end of the decade.
But it’s a success story with a bitter twist. Poverty levels are rising again, the country remains heavily indebted and dependant on donor support, and in the north, the government continues to battle the Lords Resistance Army, a cult-like guerrilla movement responsible for killings and the abduction of thousands of children.