Uganda’s population is approximately 31 million, with a majority female population of 51% and a dominance of children below 15.

Despite the existence of Universal Primary Education, literacy rates are still low at 69%. Barriers to education still exist, mostly relating to costs. 20% of the population above 15 years had no formal education.

Disease prevalence is around 40% up from 29% in 2002/3, with malaria accounting for up to 50% of reported cases. The nearest government hospital is within an average of 27 kilometres. 15% of children below 18 years are orphans, the majority due to HIV/AIDS.

Poverty has reduced from 39% in 2002/3 to 31% in 2005/6, with 8.4 million people living below the poverty line. Development challenges remain huge.

The signing of the second Cooperation Programme (2009-2012) between Uganda and Belgium in November 2008 confirmed the good relations established over the last decade and the intention to support the country in its efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

After the successful implementation of the first Cooperation Programme 2005-2008, Belgium committed a budget of EUR 64 million, and Uganda climbed up to the fourth rank in the list of partner countries of Belgian Cooperation.

The new programme focuses on the following two sectors:

• Primary health care, with a focus on capacity building in leadership and management of the decentralised health services.
• Education, with a focus on Business, Technical and Vocational Training and the Health Training Institutions.

With an annual budget of more than EUR 1 million, out of which approximately EUR 750,000 is attributed to local scholarships, BTC Uganda is managing by large the most important scholarship programme in the country.