The overall life expectancy of Ugandans at birth in 2024 was 68.2 years, a rise from 63.7% in 2014, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

This was revealed on Thursday during the launch of the National Population and Housing Census 2024 main report by Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja at the Serena Hotel Kampala in the presence of the State Minister in charge of Planning, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, UBOS board chairman Dr Albert Byamugisha and UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris Mukiza.

According to Dr Mukiza, the findings of the National Population and Housing Census 2024 are timely in relation to the current planning cycle.

“In particular, the data and information will provide baseline information for the fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), consequent planning up to the lowest administrative level and monitoring projects and programmes, to mention a few,” he said.

Dr Mukiza noted that life expectancy at birth is a measure that is often used to gauge the overall health and well-being of a nation.

It gives a summary measure of the mortality experience of the population at all ages. A life table consists of data on survivorship and the probability of individuals dying within a given population.

“An increase in life expectancy could be attributed to improvements in healthcare. The life expectancy at birth for males (66.9 years) was lower compared to their female counterparts (70.1 years). This means that males and females born in Uganda now and subjected to the current levels of mortality at the different ages would expect to live for 66.9 years and 70.1 years respectively,” he said.