Mpigi's Population In Uganda

David Smith begins the article by mentioning Mpigi, a father of nine living in Uganda. Mpigi and his wife never intended to have so many kids and they now worry about feeding their family. After mentioning in passing that Uganda’s population is predicted to triple by 2050, Smith quotes another Ugandan. This Ugandan, Baliruno, is terrified of his country’s future as its resources are already being destroyed by the growing population. Smith then segues into facts about Africa and its demographics. Smith states Africa has the highest birth rate being the world’s poorest continent. Furthermore, the average woman in sub-Saharan Africa will birth about 5.2 children in her lifetime, and the population of Africa is expected to double from 1 billion

He asserts that Africa’s growth is due to the continent’s youth. Many families are large despite the risk of malnutrition, HIV, and child death. A senior health fellow, Lyndon Haviland, is referenced by Smith. Haviland gives potential solutions to Africa’s high birthrate. Some of these solutions include investing in education for girls, giving access to modern contraception, improving healthcare, and convincing Africans that their children will live. Smith, referencing UN-Habitat, reports that population growth has already caused a migration from the countrysides to the cities. City growth is happening at unbelievable rate, according to Smith. Cities may not be able to provide their citizens with food and water, and this burden is even more prevalent because Africa is being greatly affected by climate change. The UN-Habitat is quoted saying that African cities are subject to some of the largest inequality in the world and that a growing population could mean ruin and instability of

Mills agrees with Haviland on the idea of African governments helping Africa’s future. Mills says that Africa’s growing population is not making problems worse but rather creating groundbreaking possibilities for the future. However, the creation of these new possibilities relies on African governments taking action in a way that they have failed to do in the past. Mills charges that Africa’s famines have not been caused by population increases or global warming. The culprits, according to Mills, are Africa’s inadequate governments. Smith claims that the growing African cities will help keep their governments accountable. Smith believes that cities will act as hotspots for activism. Smith again cites Mills, who believes that there are going to be many energized young Africans to lead the charge against their negligent