Has leadership stalled fertility decline in Uganda?

James Ntozi, Makerere University
Gideon Rutaremwa, Makerere University
Patricia Ndugga, Makerere University
Michael Mugisha, Makerere University
Cyprian Misinde, Makerere University
Charles Lwanga, Makerere University

Uganda has experienced several decades of high and constant Fertility in the past. Recently, the country has witnessed phenomenal economic growth rates and substantial contraceptive uptake. Despite these developments, Uganda unlike many other sub-Saharan African countries in similar situation, has continued to witness stalled fertility. It is claimed that the public statements made by the political and religious leadership have encouraged the population to continue with high fertility. Research using qualitative methods is on-going to investigate the lack of interest among the political, cultural and religious leadership in reducing the fertility. Preliminary results show that stalled fertility transition in the country is due to several factors, including pronatalist leadership. The paper shows how leadership factor has played an important role in frustrating the expected fertility decline. It is proposed that programmes to sensitize leadership be intensified to enable them change their messages in favour of fertility decline.