Browsing: @world bank

Africa is living longer—but not better. A World Bank report reveals how countries like Uganda are facing a silent aging crisis, with health systems and social care lagging far behind demographic change.

Global incomes are up, markets are calmer, and the crisis years appear to be fading. But the World Bank says millions across Africa are still worse off than before COVID-19, exposing a recovery that lifted some—and left others behind.

Uganda’s economy is growing faster than most in the region, but the World Bank’s latest Uganda Economic Update warns that cracks are forming beneath the surface. While GDP has surged nearly 7% this year, weak tax collection, rising debt, and underfunded social services threaten to stall the country’s momentum. The Bank says Uganda must rethink how it raises—and spends—its money if the promise of growth is to reach ordinary citizens.

Developing nations are being locked out of global investment flows, just as they need them most. The World Bank’s 2025 report warns that unless governments dismantle trade barriers and restore investor confidence, millions may remain trapped in poverty. The solutions exist—but will the world act before it’s too late?

Uganda ranks 76th out of 130 economies in the World Bank’s Business Ready 2024 report, landing in the 41st percentile globally and 12th in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country scores well in utility access (60.3) and labor regulation (60.1), but struggles with land administration (42.8) and construction permits (48.1), raising urgent questions about reform capacity and competitiveness in East Africa’s fast-changing economic landscape.

Across Africa, food is rotting before it ever reaches the people who need it. Despite rising production, over 295 million Africans went hungry last year. Why? A powerful new World Bank report says the answer isn’t in the fields—it’s in the roads. From blocked border posts to collapsing ports, the continent’s fragile food supply chains are crumbling under the weight of neglect. “We’re not just losing food,” says the Bank’s Nicolas Peltier, “we’re losing lives.” The good news? With strategic investment and political will, this crisis is fixable—and millions of lives can be saved.

In a groundbreaking report, the World Bank warns that air pollution is not just an environmental issue but a global emergency costing trillions and stealing lives—particularly in the world’s poorest communities. With solutions in reach, why are we still suffocating?

Uganda’s economy grew by 6.1% in FY2023/24, driven by strong industrial and service sector performance, while inflation fell to 3.2%. However, challenges remain, including a 7.9% current account deficit, declining foreign exchange reserves, and fiscal discipline concerns. With oil production set to begin in 2025/26, Uganda faces a critical moment to strengthen its economic policies and sustain long-term growth.

Sub-Saharan Africa is poised for a moderate economic recovery in 2025-26, with GDP growth expected to reach 4.1%. While stronger domestic demand, stable commodity prices, and policy reforms offer a path to growth, mounting debt, inflationary pressures, and political instability continue to pose serious risks. As the global economy faces slowing growth and trade disruptions, can SSA capitalize on its youthful population and resource wealth to drive long-term prosperity?

Remittances to Uganda surged to $1.43 billion in 2023, providing critical support to household incomes and economic stability. As the nation leverages these funds to reduce poverty and drive growth, challenges like high transaction costs and limited financial inclusion remain barriers to maximizing their impact. Here’s how Uganda compares globally and what it can do to transform remittances into a tool for sustainable development.