The government needs to know the way people are settled in an area. Population settlement in Uganda is not the same. Some areas have many people while others have few. Districts in Uganda with many people include; Kabale, Kampala, Rukungiri, Wakiso, Mbale, Iganga and Mbarara and we refer to such districts with very many people as being densely populated.

There are several reasons responsible for population distribution. Industrialisation is a factor that attracts people in an area as they search for jobs in industries to work as managers, builders, plumbers and drivers. Availability of markets, schools and higher institutions of learning attract large numbers of people to settle near them so as to access the services provided by those social centre.

Availability of water from lakes and rivers attracts people to settle in such areas because plenty of water supports irrigation farming. Some people are fishermen or women since the fishing ground is readily available.

Some people are directed by the government to migrate and settle in other areas allocated to them for either political, social or economic reasons. For example, in 2010 after the mudslide in Bududa district, government resettled some people in Masindi district.

Fertility of soils also attract big numbers of people because such farming activities can be carried out successfully.

Few people settle in areas with poor climate because rainfall is not reliable. Areas that experience good climate attract large numbers of people.

Pests and diseases. Areas where there are disease like tsetse flies discourage people to settle in such places hence very few people live there.

High population density

This refers to when the number of people living in an area is very high per square Kilometre.

Causes of high population densities

• The number of new babies born is bigger compared to the number of babies who die either during or after delivery.

• Decrease in death rates due to improved medical services such as immunisation programmes.

• High fertility rates among women. Most women have the ability to produce more than six children during their lifetime.

• Neglect and ignorance of family planning services has led to population increase in most parts of the country.

• Presence of fertile soils that support crop farming which leads to production of a lot of food. There is no starvation.

• Many people having easy access to a well developed transport and

• communication network such as road, railway, water and air.

• As a result of social services such as health centres, entertainment centres, piped water often attract large numbers of people.

Low population density
This refers to how low/small the population is in a given area per square kilometre (Km2)

Causes of low population density

(i) Low and unreliable rainfall that makes cultivation of crops very difficult.

(ii) Absence of enough water makes human life difficult and this is partly due to unreliable rainfall received.

(iii) Poor soils that do not support proper growth of crops and other vegetation.

(iv) Disease vectors that scare away people as they spread diseases.

(v) Lack of good means of transport and communication discourages people settling in some areas.

Effects of HIV / AIDS on population and economic production

HIV / AIDS is a deadly disease that has led to loss of life of many people who would have contributed to the development of the country economically, politically or socially. There are different ways in which government is fighting the spread of the disease.

i) Promoting the usage of condoms if someone can not abstain before marriage.

ii) Sensitising the youth about the dangers of the disease and advising them to learn how to live responsibly.

iii) Using the media such as news papers, radios and television to pass on information to the public on how to safeguard themselves against the deadly disease.

iv) Sensitizing the public through music, dance and drama about the effects of HIV / AIDS.

v) Advising pregnant women to seek antenatal care such that in case they are infected, the in-born child is protected.

Social effects of HIV / AIDS on the population

i) Loss of lives of many people from all age groups. A lot of misery is left in society. This causes reduction in the population.

ii) Population decrease in some families and areas which leaves the family members to suffer a lot since at times the people who die are the providers of the basic needs.

iii) Children drop out of schools due to loss of parents who support them financially. This at times leads to high number of orphans.

iv) Health workers risk a danger of being indirectly infected by the disease.

Economic effects of HIV/AIDS on the production

(i) Reduction in the taxes of the country. Some people who die are tax payers either from their business or PAYE.

(ii) Declining levels of skilled labour force where people who are highly skilled are dying of the AIDS scourge.

(iii) Individuals who would provide household income are prevented from working either because they are ill or caring for another family member.

(iv) AIDS leads to the decline in food production in some areas as farming activities are neglected due to household illnesses.