Factors that influence poverty in Uganda: a case study of Northern Uganda

Abstract

This Research presents a summary of the findings, conclusions, areas of future research, recommendations that could be utilized by policy makers, development planners, government, non-governmental and humanitarian organizations stakeholders, local authorities, municipalities and city authority and private companies to amend polices and guidelines on Impact of Socio Economic Factors on Poverty Rate in Northern Uganda, Uganda and rest of the world. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of socio-economic factors on food poverty in northern Uganda. From the analysis, being a female, polygamous/living together, Divorced/ Separated, Widow/ Widower and Never married, beneficiary of youth livelihood fund and Household members owns a mobile phone, having a post-secondary plus, completed level of education, Quintile 2, Quintile 3, Quintile 4 and Quintile 5 have statistically significant influence on increasing average number of meals per day by households since their p values (0.0000, 0.0230, 0.0000, 0.0040, 0.0000, 0.0490, 0.0000, 0.0110, 0.0070, 0.0110, 0.0360, 0.0010, 0.0000) respectively are less than 0.05 at 5% level of significance. Increasing the above significant predictor variables result in increase in the average number of meals by households per day. Age (above 18 years), religion (Anglican, Catholic, Pentecost), Monthly household food expenditure in market prices, Household size, having at least a trip outside locality, owning a mobile phone, Urban/Town residents have no significant impact in the average number of meals by households per day since their p values (0.415, 0.791, 0.444, 0.332, 0.642, 0.124, 0.848, 0.104) greater than 0.05 at 5% level of significance as compared to those households 18 years and below, those who do not have trips outside locality, Rural/village residents, those who do not own a mobile phone and have not loaded airtime to mobile phone for the past 30 days. Increasing insignificant predictor variables result in negligible increase in average number of meals by households per day or greater reduction in average number of meals by households per day.