By Peter Eceru
The World Bank has released the 24th edition of the Uganda Economic Update, focusing on Investing in Early Childhood Development for the Transformation of Human Capital in Uganda.
The report underscores the importance of public investment in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a foundation for building a skilled and productive workforce.
By ensuring children receive essential nutrition, healthcare, and education in their early years, ECD programs lay the groundwork for higher productivity, innovation, and economic growth.
Human capital the knowledge, skills, and health that enable people to be productive—is crucial for Uganda’s long-term economic growth and job creation.
The report highlights that early childhood development significantly shapes labor market outcomes. By enhancing cognitive and non-cognitive skills from a young age, increased ECD investment leads to higher educational attainment, better job performance, and improved productivity.
Individuals who benefit from quality early childhood education are more likely to become adaptable and innovative workers, resulting in increased earnings and job stability.
Despite some progress in early childhood health and nutrition, disparities in service delivery threaten further advancements.
While stunting has reduced to 26% nationwide, regions like Karamoja still experience alarmingly high rates at 43.9% among children under five.
Addressing these “stubborn inequalities” in access to basic nutrition services—particularly for rural and low-income households must be a priority.
Uganda’s current human capital outcomes remain insufficient to achieve its growth aspirations, and the country must invest more in early childhood interventions and maternal health to drive accelerated progress.
The World Bank recommends a decisive shift from a business-as-usual approach to accelerate human capital development and economic growth. Investing in a child’s first 1,000 days from conception to their second birthday is especially critical, as this period sees the most rapid brain development.
Proper nutrition and care during this time have a lasting impact on health, learning potential, and overall well-being. Studies show that reducing stunting a key indicator of early-life health investments could increase Gross Domestic Product by as much as 11% per capita in low- and middle-income countries over time.
Each year, millions of children in Uganda suffer from stunting, anemia, and low birth weight, leading to severe health consequences, lost school years, and reduced economic potential.
Malnutrition affects school attendance, increases class repetition, and contributes to high healthcare costs, ultimately undermining the country’s future workforce and economic growth prospects. Investing in nutrition is not just a health issue—it is a crucial driver of economic transformation and social equity.
This report comes at a crucial time as the world prepares for the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris. The summit is a global platform where leaders, organisations, and stakeholders commit to mobilising resources and taking decisive action to end malnutrition.
It also supports progress toward Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of hunger by 2030.
For Uganda, the upcoming summit presents a golden opportunity to take bold and concrete steps in reversing malnutrition trends and harnessing the benefits of the demographic dividend. Investing in nutrition is not just a moral responsibility it is an economically sound decision that will benefit both present and future generations.
The writer works with Action Against Hunger.