Browsing: @EPRC

Uganda could turn hospitals and universities into major regional export industries as demand for its health and education services grows, but researchers warn that weak data, regulatory fragmentation and quality gaps could limit the opportunity.

Uganda has many of the ingredients needed for an electric vehicle revolution: clean electricity, critical battery minerals and a growing market for electric motorcycles. But new research warns that without better coordination, charging infrastructure and clearer policies, the country’s ambitious transition could stall before it reaches ordinary

Ugandans are ready to embrace electric vehicles, but high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure and scarce financing threaten to slow the transition. New research suggests affordability, not demand, is the biggest hurdle.

A new study by the Economic Policy Research Centre warns that the European Union’s deforestation-free trade rules—designed to protect forests—may end up hurting small coffee farmers in Uganda and Indonesia. With strict traceability demands and rising compliance costs, researchers say millions of growers risk losing access to Europe’s market unless the policy is implemented more gradually and with stronger support for producing countries.

From UGX 3m for teachers to UGX 50m for top officials, a damning report shows how district jobs are auctioned off—education and health workers hit hardest.

With 46% of households food insecure and roads crumbling, Uganda’s hunger crisis is no longer just a rural issue—it’s a national emergency. Experts say fixing roads could be the quickest fix to an enduring problem.

Uganda’s latest Business Climate Index shows a subtle but serious slide—down to 89 in Q1 of 2025—signaling deeper fatigue in the private sector. Micro and small enterprises are struggling under the weight of multiple taxes, unstable electricity, and fierce informal competition. Add to that the aftershocks from the DRC conflict, and Uganda’s economy stands at a precarious crossroads.

While 23% of Ugandan men report having non-regular sexual partners, only 3% report using condoms, compared to 14% of women. The result? A deepening gender gap in HIV exposure. As women bear the brunt of rising infections and STIs, experts are calling for male-focused interventions and targeted awareness.

Despite growing Uganda’s food and employing over 60% of the workforce, most farmers have no health insurance, no retirement savings, and no financial protection against crises. A new report by the Economic Policy Research Centre reveals the stark exclusion of agricultural workers from social insurance schemes—and offers a blueprint for change. With flexible, farmer-friendly policies and smart use of cooperatives, Uganda could finally extend protection to the backbone of its economy. But time is running out. If reforms aren’t made, the cycle of rural poverty will only deepen.

A new report by Uganda’s Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) reveals deep structural barriers limiting women’s participation in the workforce—from wage gaps and unpaid care to high NEET rates—threatening national growth and economic inclusion.