The latest Uganda Harmonised Integrated Survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has revealed notable shifts in household leadership patterns across the country, with male-headed households recording a decline over the past three years.
The survey shows that the proportion of male-headed households decreased by 2% percent, from 66.3% in 2022 to 64.3 percent in 2025.
According to UBOS, the decline points to gradual changes in family structures and social organisation at household level.
In contrast, female-headed households have increased by 2% over the same period, reflecting shifting socio-economic realities in both rural and urban settings.
The survey also indicated changes in household composition, particularly the rise of single-member households.
It indicates that the proportion of one-member households increased by 2.4%, rising from 7.8% in 2021/22 to 10.2 % in 2024/25.
This trend may point to increasing individual living arrangements, migration patterns, and changing lifestyle preferences.
UBOS notes that the Uganda Harmonised Integrated Survey integrates data from the Uganda National Panel Survey and the Annual Agricultural Survey.
The integration, according to the bureau, is intended to provide a more comprehensive picture of social and economic conditions in the country.
The findings also suggest that household dynamics in Uganda are becoming more diverse and less traditionally structured than in previous years.
Such shifts may have implications for housing demand, social protection systems, and urban planning.
UBOS says the survey results are part of ongoing efforts to track demographic changes and inform national development planning.