Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo has called for a shift in the perception of population growth, saying the country’s growing population should be transformed into an asset through investment in technology, research, health, and education. She made the remarks during the commemoration of World Population Day held under the theme "Unlocking the Potential of Our Population through Technology and Research.”

As Uganda continues to grapple with the opportunities and challenges that come with a growing population, leaders say empowering citizens, especially the youth, remains critical in driving economic transformation.

Vice President Jessica Alupo said Uganda’s population is one of its greatest resources, noting that land and other natural resources cannot be fully utilized without skilled and productive people.

She said population growth only becomes a challenge when people are not empowered, adding that investments in healthcare, education, and technology can turn the population into an engine for development.

The Vice President highlighted government achievements, including increased electricity access, expansion of the paved road network, growth in manufactured exports, and efforts to promote value addition by processing raw materials within Uganda.

She noted that Uganda has made progress in improving living conditions, with household poverty reducing and life expectancy rising from about 43 years to 63 years.

Meanwhile, Kristine Blokhus, the UNFPA representative in Uganda, emphasized the need to harness the potential of young people through innovation, research, and opportunities that will enable their contribution to national development.

With a largely youthful population, leaders say Uganda’s future will depend on how effectively it invests in human capital development opportunities for them to contribute to economic growth.