UBOS report reveals drop in men-led households

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Thank you.

[00:00:01]A new report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics has revealed that female headship of families is steadily rising in a society historically structured by male dominance. The Uganda Harmonized Integrated Survey covering three financial survey years from 2021 indicates that the proportion of male headship of households decreased by 2% from 66.3% in 2021 to 64.3% in 2025, changing historical social dynamics. The report has also revealed that 14.5% of the target population moved into poverty and the proportion of one-member households increased by 2.4% from 7.8% in the financial year 2021-2022 to 10.2% in the 2024-2025 financial year. We took to the streets to pick minds on what could be increasingly placing women at the helm of families against most traditional norms in Uganda.

[00:01:04]The moment men lost their authority to women in a family, they handed over the economic power as well to women. Men should retain their position as heads and take charge of families.

[00:01:15]For our society to morally stabilize, children are no longer even disciplined.

[00:01:21]God designed men to be respected.

[00:01:26]So, we are all earning and most of the men are not Nowadays they are not responsible.

[00:01:32]They tend to leave their responsibilities out to women.

[00:01:36]So, and I think women nowadays don't like begging. You know, if you over beg, you become useless. Being that you're also you're earning and you have money, I think you won't be begging for few few few things. So, that's why most women are heading the families.

[00:02:00]>> These days couples meet on the street like I have met you with no parental guidance. These partners end up breaking up over petty reasons making many women single parents. They eventually end up single-handedly managing these homes.

[00:02:23]More women are taking care of families because some of some rather men neglected their responsibilities.

[00:02:32]Yes.

[00:02:33]I've never neglected their their responsibilities. They no longer want to take care of homes.

[00:02:40]Several female-headed households are demonstrating remarkable resilience and entrepreneurial independence with the national proportion of households operating enterprises increasing by 1.9% from 36.9% in 2022 to 38.8% in 2025.

[00:03:00]However, according to the report, 8.9% of the sampled population remained chronically poor across all three survey years. 14.5% moved into poverty, higher than the 9.7% who managed to escape the poverty bracket. UBOS officials are optimistic the data will support future policy analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of projects, investments, and programs.

[00:03:25]quality primary statistics remain central in monitoring progress and ensuring that no one is left behind.

[00:03:33]I therefore call upon the ministries, departments, and agencies, local governments, development partners, researchers, academia, civil society, the private sector, and the media to actively utilize these reports in planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of development programs.

[00:03:57]Juliet Nalwoga, NTV.