About Oxfam in Uganda

Oxfam is a global movement for change that empowers people to create a secure future, just and free from poverty. We believe that everyone has a right to safety, security, a livelihood and a say in decisions that affect them.

We seek a world in which everyone can speak up to power, demand and claim their human rights, and build a better future for themselves. We recognise that we cannot achieve this on our own but as a collective power. We, therefore, work in partnership with local and grass-root organisations, civil society, individuals, volunteers, the private sector, and the Government.

Our Vision is Uganda free of inequality and Injustice: A society where people, particularly women and young people, claim and exercise their rights and responsibilities and influence decisions that affect their lives. Our work is guided by the Country Strategic Framework (CSF) (2021 – 2030) which is organised around four themes: Governance and Accountability, Resilient Livelihoods, Humanitarian preparedness and response and Gender Justice and Women Rights. All the themes work towards influencing policy and practice, youth and women empowerment, inclusive participation in decision-making at various levels, and capacity strengthening of national and local actors.

At Oxfam in Uganda, inequality is addressed through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach across humanitarian, resilient livelihoods, and governance and accountability programmes. The humanitarian programme focuses on reducing inequality by prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable populations such as refugees, women, and crisis-affected communities ensuring equitable access to life-saving assistance, protection, and essential services while promoting dignity and inclusion. The resilient livelihoods programme tackles structural economic inequalities by strengthening inclusive market systems, improving access to productive assets like land and finance, promoting climate resilience, and supporting sustainable income opportunities, particularly for women and youth. Meanwhile, the governance and accountability programme addresses systemic and institutional drivers of inequality by enhancing citizen participation, strengthening civic space, and promoting transparent, accountable, and pro-poor public finance and service delivery systems. Together, these programmes aim to address both the symptoms and root causes of inequality by combining immediate support with long-term transformative change.

The Terms of Reference for the Inequality Study are closely aligned with Uganda’s national and global development frameworks, particularly the Uganda National Development Plan IV, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Uganda Vision 2040, all of which prioritize inclusive growth, equitable service delivery and reduction of socio-economic disparities. The study’s focus on multidimensional inequality including economic, sectoral, demographic, and governance dimensions directly contributes to NDP IV’s objective of increasing household incomes and improving quality of life, while also advancing SDG commitments such as reducing inequality (SDG 10), and ensuring inclusive institutions (SDG 16). Furthermore, by generating evidence on disparities in access to resources, services, and opportunities, the study supports Vision 2040’s aspiration of transforming Uganda into middle income country by ensuring that growth is broad-based and benefits all population groups, particularly marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Background to the study

Oxfam in Uganda previously undertook an inequality study “Who is Growing” between 2017–2018, which provided a foundational analysis of the nature and drivers of inequality in the country, highlighting stark disparities in income and wealth distribution, unequal access to quality public services, and the structural barriers faced by marginalized groups, particularly women, youth, and rural populations. The study underscored the role of regressive fiscal policies, limited redistributive mechanisms, and governance challenges including weak accountability and corruption in perpetuating inequality, while also drawing attention to the concentration of economic and political power among a small elite. Its findings informed Oxfam’s programming and advocacy priorities, particularly in promoting fiscal justice, inclusive service delivery, and citizen participation. Building on this earlier work, the planned 2026 study seeks to assess and deepen the evidence base by examining emerging trends and drivers of inequality, including the impacts of climate change, rising public debt, and Uganda’s evolving economic landscape, to better inform policy and practice toward more equitable development outcomes.

Oxfam continues to view inequality as one of the most urgent and systemic barriers to ending poverty and injustice. Global evidence shows that inequality has not only persisted but has worsened over the past decade, concentrating wealth, power and opportunities in the hands of a few, while majority struggle with insecure incomes, limited access to quality public services, and exclusion from decision-making (Oxfam, 2024).

Recent data shows that despite Uganda’s GDP growth averaging 5.3% over the past five years (IMF, 2024), the gains have been unevenly distributed. The richest 10% of Ugandans control over 35% of national income, while the bottom 40% share less than 15% (UBOS, 2021). Gender, regional and rural-urban disparities remain stark. Young people, informal workers and people with disabilities continue to face structural exclusion. Climate change, rising public debt and Uganda’s transition into an oil-producing economy further threatens equitable development (UNDP, 2022; SEATINI & Oxfam, 2023). Oxfam’s 2024 global report Inequality Inc. underscores how unchecked corporate and elite wealth undermine efforts toward inclusive and just economies.

Inequality undermines democratic participation, social cohesion, and economic resilience. It slows down poverty reduction efforts and fuels discontent, conflict and fragility. Oxfam’s concern is not only with income and wealth disparities, but also how systems of power, politics and policy reinforce exclusion. Oxfam’s current efforts focus on influencing economic models, amplifying marginalized voices and driving systemic change across fiscal justice, climate justice, care work, gender justice and corporate accountability. By tackling the root causes of inequality, Oxfam aims to support more just, inclusive and sustainable societies.

In Uganda, the debate around inequality has intensified amid growing concerns that economic growth has not translated into shared prosperity. While national indicators show consistent GDP growth and poverty reduction over the years, the benefits of this growth remain unequally distributed, with wealth increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small elite. These inequalities are exacerbated by weak redistributive systems, underfunded public services, climate shocks and a growing debt burden.

Uganda has a relatively strong legal, policy, and institutional framework aimed at addressing inequality, although implementation gaps persist. The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides the overarching foundation, guaranteeing equality, non-discrimination, and social justice, and mandating the state to ensure equitable access to opportunities and services for all citizens. This is operationalized through key national policies and frameworks such as the Uganda National Development Plan IV, which prioritizes inclusive growth, human capital development, and reducing regional disparities, as well as sectoral policies in education, health, social protection, land, and gender that seek to address structural inequalities.

Uganda is also guided by international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasize leaving no one behind. Institutionally, a range of bodies including the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Inspectorate of Government, and Uganda Human Rights Commission play critical roles in policy formulation, planning, oversight, data generation, and enforcement of accountability. However, persistent challenges such as weak enforcement, limited coordination, corruption, and constrained civic space continue to undermine the effectiveness of these frameworks in fully addressing inequality.

It is against this backdrop, Oxfam in Uganda, seeks to commission an Inequality Study in 2026 to provide up to date (from 2017), evidence-based insights into the nature, trends and drivers of inequality in Uganda. The study will go beyond income to examine disparities in wealth, redistribution of resources, social and demographic disparities. These findings will support Oxfam in recalibrating programming and advocacy strategies and offer concrete recommendations for policy makers and stakeholders to adopt more inclusive and equitable development pathways. The study will also contribute to regional knowledge and movement-building efforts, focused on dismantling structural barriers to justice, fairness and social cohesion.

Objectives of the Assignment

Overall, the study will assess the state of inequality in Uganda, manifested through different dimensions. Specifically, the study will:

1. Assess the current levels and trends (2017-2026) of inequality in Uganda, disaggregated by income & wealth, gender, age, geography, PWD, IDPs and Refugees.
2. Analyze the economic, social, environmental and governance drivers of inequality.
3. Analyze the impact of inequality with a focus on the vulnerable demographics (marginalized communities, women, youth, PWD, refugees & Elderly).
4. Generate key recommendations for Oxfam and various stakeholders to influence more progressive and inclusive policies.

4.0. Scope of work

The study will be national in scope, with data collection happening in selected regions and districts. This approach will capture contextual differences while ensuring the sample is representative. The timeframe for assessment is from 2017 to 2026, allowing us to examine trends in inequality over time, while also looking at current data to reflect the present situation and guide future recommendations. The inequality research will therefore focus on the legal, structural, economic, environmental, social, political, geographical (urban/rural, regional dimensions) and gender factors.

The overall goal of this assignment is to gather strong evidence to shape programming, advocacy, and policy efforts. The technical components in sections 4.1 to 4.3 clearly defined what is to be done. The study will involve a wide range of key stakeholders, including national and local government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, academia, private sector actors, and selected communities. This will help ensure diverse perspectives and validate findings, as broken down below;

4.1. Economic inequality

Economic inequality has had a profound impact on Uganda’s growth and development, shaped by how income is generated, accumulated, and used to attain wealth. Uganda continues to experience high levels of inequality, where the rich are getting richer while the poor face persistent deprivation. According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Statistical Abstract, Uganda’s population stands at approximately 45 million, of whom about 24 million (11.4 million males and 12.1 million females) are of working age, with 18 million currently employed (UBOS, 2024).

The Employment-to-Population Ratio (EPR) increased from 39% in 2019/20 to 43% in 2021, indicating that less than half of the working-age population was employed. The EPR is consistently higher among males and urban residents than among females and rural residents (UBOS, 2024). In terms of occupation, 29% of employed persons (29% males, 28% females) worked as skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers, followed by 27% engaged in service and sales work (UBOS, 2024).

Labour underutilization remains a significant challenge, particularly among youth, where it stands at 48%. The youth unemployment rate is 17%, exceeding the national average of 12%, and 41% of youth are classified as Neither in Employment, Education, nor Training (NEET), with higher prevalence among females (52%) than males (28%) (UBOS, 2024). Uganda lacks a statutory minimum wage, creating space for exploitation of lower-income workers (Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, 2023). Labour migration from Uganda to the Middle East has increased significantly, with over 317,000 Ugandans deployed between 2016 and 2024 (Daily Monitor, 2025), the majority being young women in domestic work. While this generates remittances, many workers face exploitation, including wage theft, passport confiscation, debt bondage, and abuse, with reports indicating widespread rights violations consistent with forced labour and trafficking risks.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dominate Uganda’s economy, contributing approximately 70% of GDP and over 80% of employment (UBOS, 2022; World Bank, 2023). However, business survival rates are relatively low, with estimates showing that about 50–60% of SMEs fail within the first five years, a situation worsened by shocks such as COVID-19. During the pandemic, nearly 30% of businesses temporarily closed, while many others reduced operations due to reduced demand, disrupted supply chains, and limited access to credit (World Bank Enterprise Surveys, 2021). These vulnerabilities highlight structural inequalities in access to finance and resilience support, particularly for informal and micro enterprises.

The high informal sector limits income generation for investment and wealth accumulation, increasing vulnerability to poverty incidences. Variations in income affect citizens’ ability to invest, save, and pay taxes, with low levels of voluntary tax compliance raising administrative costs for the government (Uganda Revenue Authority, 2023). Although financial inclusion has improved, access to credit remains limited, with many unable to provide the collateral required for investment (Bank of Uganda, 2024). Below is a breakdown of the areas of focus for this thematic dimension with the following research questions;

• To what extent is Uganda’s economic growth model inclusive, and how do sectoral growth patterns, industrialization, and value addition influence inequality across different population groups and regions?
• What are the key trends in income, asset, and wealth distribution in Uganda (2017–2026), and how do access to productive assets and land tenure systems shape inequality?
• How do tax structures, fiscal policies, and national budget allocations affect the redistribution of resources and the reduction of inequality, particularly for poor and vulnerable populations?

4.2. Sectoral and Demographic Inequality

Uganda’s inequality landscape is shaped by persistent structural gaps across key sectors. Agriculture, which employs approximately 65–70% of the working population, remains constrained by low productivity, limited market access, and vulnerability to climate shocks (UBOS, 2022; Uganda Revenue Authority, 2023). Despite Uganda having significant agricultural potential with only about 35% of its arable land currently cultivated, smallholder farmers continue to face systemic barriers (Ministry of Finance/Trade, 2025). Agriculture contributes about 24–26.5% of national GDP, highlighting its central yet underperforming role in the economy (UBOS, 2024; Ministry of Finance/Trade, 2025).

Education exhibits equally stark disparities: national assessments show pronounced urban–rural divides, with numeracy proficiency among Primary 3 (P3) learners at 74.3% in urban areas compared to 48.5% in rural areas, and Primary 6 (P6) literacy at 67.5% in urban settings versus 26.2% in rural schools. These inequalities are compounded by infrastructure gaps and cost barriers that limit educational access for the poorest households (Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), 2021; Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), 2022).

Similarly, health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), energy, and digital services reveal structural inequities that reinforce poverty cycles. Although life expectancy has risen to about 66 years, access to health services remains uneven, with rural communities facing constrained service availability and underfunding (Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), 2024; Ministry of Health Uganda, 2023).

WASH coverage remains inadequate, with only 78% of the population accessing basic water services, 15% basic sanitation, and 48% basic hygiene services nationally (Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2023; UNICEF Uganda, 2022). Energy and digital divides also persist: electricity access stood at about 51.5% in 2023, while internet penetration was approximately 28% in early 2025, with rural broadband access remaining below 30% (Electricity Regulatory Authority, 2023; Uganda Communications Commission, 2025).

Gender inequality further deepens disparities, with the employment-to-population ratio estimated at 33.1% for women compared to 43% for men, reflecting persistent gaps in access to decent work and economic opportunities (Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), 2023; International Labour Organization, 2022). Regional inequality remains the most severe dimension: poverty levels range from about 1.1% in Kampala to as high as 74.2% in Karamoja, underscoring the profound geographic imbalances driving national inequality (Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2020; 2023).

Environmental degradation in Uganda driven by deforestation, wetland encroachment, pollution, and climate change disproportionately affects poor and marginalized communities who depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods. Key focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, climate adaptation and resilience, climate justice financing, and strengthening enforcement of environmental regulations. Inequality is evident as rich individuals benefit from resource extraction while poorer households bear the costs of land degradation, floods, droughts, and reduced agricultural productivity. This uneven distribution of environmental risks and benefits deepens existing socio-economic disparities and limits opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development.

This sub theme will further provide the state of inequality in the sectoral and demographic dimensions as guided by the research questions below;

• How do sectoral disparities across agriculture, education, health, WASH, energy, and digital access contribute to inequality in livelihoods, access to services, and economic opportunities in Uganda?
• What structural, geographic, and socio-economic factors (including gender, region, and income levels) drive unequal access to resources, services, and opportunities across different population groups?
• How do environmental pressures, natural resource governance, and public investment decisions influence inequality, particularly in terms of resilience, inclusion, and sustainable development outcomes?

4.3. Governance & Institutional Inequality

Inequality in Uganda is not only driven by income disparities, but also by deep-rooted governance and institutional weaknesses that shape how public resources are mobilized, allocated, and managed. Public spending in critical sectors such as health, education, and water has had limited redistributive impact, largely due to chronic underinvestment, structural inefficiencies, and weak public financial management systems (Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development Uganda, 2023; World Bank, 2023). Accountability gaps, duplication of institutional mandates despite ongoing government rationalization efforts, and disparities in remuneration between government agencies and the wider civil service further undermine equitable and efficient service delivery (Office of the Auditor General Uganda, 2023; Public Service Commission Uganda, 2022).

At the same time, corruption, elite capture, and poorly appraised public investments divert scarce resources away from those most in need. Funds earmarked for essential services are often lost through inflated procurement contracts, ghost beneficiaries, politically motivated appointments, and opaque budget reallocations (Inspectorate of Government Uganda, 2023; Office of the Auditor General Uganda, 2023). Weak oversight institutions and limited transparency reduce the likelihood that such practices are detected and sanctioned, leaving service delivery points particularly in rural and underserved communities under-resourced (Transparency International Uganda, 2023; Parliament of Uganda, 2022).

Elite interests also distort policy and investment priorities, often favoring large-scale infrastructure or projects that offer political visibility over basic social services with greater pro-poor impact. Inadequate feasibility studies, limited community consultation, and weak monitoring contribute to stalled projects, cost overruns, and infrastructure that fails to respond to actual community needs (National Planning Authority Uganda, 2023; Office of the Auditor General Uganda, 2023). Collectively, these dynamics entrench inequality, erode trust in public institutions, and weaken the redistributive potential of public spending (Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development Uganda, 2023; World Bank, 2023).

Limited citizen participation in planning and budgeting processes, coupled with a shrinking civic space that constrains freedoms of expression and association, restricts the ability of citizens and civil society actors to demand transparency and influence public priorities (Uganda Human Rights Commission, 2023; CIVICUS, 2023). Together, these governance and institutional weaknesses reinforce exclusion and constrain inclusive development outcomes. Public spending consequently has limited redistributive impact, particularly in social sectors including health, education, and social protection (Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development Uganda, 2023; World Bank, 2023). This sub theme will be guided with the following research question;

• To what extent does public spending and investment decisions promote equitable service delivery and reduce inequality across different population groups?
• How do governance challenges such as corruption, elite capture, institutional inefficiencies, and limited accountability affect the distribution and management of public resources?
• How do citizen participation, civic space, and political power dynamics influence inclusion, responsiveness of governance systems, and inequality outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and conflict-affected populations?

5.0. Methodology of the assignment

The study will use a mixed-methods approach drawing on;

1. Desk review of existing research, statistics (e.g., UNHS, UBOS, World Bank), and policy documents including the National Development Plans, budget frameworks, and international commitments.
2. Key informant interviews with policy makers; government officials, CSOs, academia, private sector, and development partners.
3. Focus group discussions with affected communities/populations, including youth, women, informal workers, displaced persons and people with disabilities.
4. Quantitative analysis of inequality indicators (Gini, Palma, wealth shares, access to public services and public expenditure incidences).

Each of the three dimensions will be built upon to create stand-alone sections, but these will also be combined to have a wholistic report with chapters set according to the sections provided in the scope of work.

Oxfam will use a mixed approach in undertaking this assignment. Oxfam will recruit 2 technical consultants who will work with the in-house subject expertise. The Oxfam in-house expertise will support the technical consultants on the nature of data that is aligned with the vision of Oxfam. The consultants will ensure that the work is well consolidated and any gaps in the information collected will be her/his responsibility to address them.

6.0. Expected Deliverables

• Inception report (tools, timelines, methodology, revised work plan)
• Draft study report
• Final study report with comments addressed
• Data sets (raw data)
• Images/photos representing the work covered
• PowerPoint Presentation of the study

7.0. Time schedule

The study will be undertaken starting in June 2026. The consultant may propose the number of days needed to accomplish the task.

8.0 Qualification of the consultant(s)

Oxfam in Uganda seeks to engage two consultants (or a multidisciplinary team) with strong, demonstrated expertise in research, particularly across economic, sectoral/demographic, and governance dimensions. The consultants should possess advanced academic qualifications in fields such as economics, development studies, public policy, social sciences, or related disciplines, with proven experience conducting mixed-methods research, including quantitative analysis of inequality indicators and qualitative fieldwork. They should demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Uganda’s socio-economic and policy context, as well as familiarity with global and national frameworks on inequality, inclusive development, and social justice.

The assignment requires excellent technical research skills, including data analysis, interpretation, and synthesis; strong analytical and report-writing capabilities; and the ability to generate actionable, evidence-based recommendations.

9.0 Supervision/management of the assignment

The consultants will be supervised by the Governance and Accountability Programme Manager at Oxfam in Uganda (Lead Person), who will provide overall technical oversight, strategic guidance, and quality assurance throughout the study.

Day-to-day coordination will be undertaken in close collaboration with Oxfam’s thematic leads and relevant programme staff to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and standards. The study will adopt a participatory and iterative approach, with the consultants expected to engage regularly with Oxfam teams and key stakeholders through scheduled check-ins, validation meetings, and feedback sessions at critical milestones (inception, draft, and final stages).

The consultants will be required to submit periodic progress updates and draft outputs for review and incorporating feedback in a timely manner. Oxfam in Uganda will be responsible for providing strategic direction, providing introductory letters to relevant stakeholders, offering technical support, and ensuring adherence to ethical standards, while the consultants will be responsible for the overall design and execution of the study, data collection and analysis, stakeholder engagement, and timely delivery of high-quality outputs.

10.0 Payment

The consultants will be paid in instalments linked to agreed deliverables. An initial 20% will be paid upon approval of the inception report (methodology, tools, and work plan). The remaining 80% will be paid upon approval of the final outputs, including the report, datasets, and presentation, with consideration of completed fieldwork. All payments will follow Oxfam in Uganda’s financial procedures and certification of quality by the Lead Person. The consultants will be responsible for declaring and remitting all applicable taxes in line with Ugandan laws.

11.0. Submission note

1. Ethical considerations (informed consent using the Oxfam template) Oxfam Ethical content guidelines to be provided and followed by the consultant.
2. Consultant to justify the districts selected per region for data collection.
3. Consultant team should have technical expertise – one lead and two others with knowledge and experience of conducting research in inequality work across different dimensions/spheres.
4. Work together with Oxfam subject experts during the research.
5. Consultant to provide the most realistic timeline in conducting the study.

12.0. Application Process

Interested consultants or firms should submit a technical and financial proposal comprising the following:

The technical proposal should include:

• Cover letter showing availability and competence
• A brief understanding of the ToRs and critique.
• Proposed methodology and tools considering ethical aspects.
• Work plan and timelines.
• Team composition and CVs (Including lead and associates/assistants).
• Evidence of similar work done (at least two with references).

Financial proposal should include:

• Only cost items quoted in Uganda Shillings (UGX).
• A detailed budget breakdown covering professional fees (daily rates for all team members), travel costs, accommodation, data collection costs, and any other relevant associated costs.
• Validity period of the proposed cost estimates.
• Proposed payment schedule linked to deliverables.

Submit applications to:

The Executive Director
Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG)
P.O. Box 660, Ntinda Kampala, Uganda
Plot 11 Vubyabirenge Close, Ntinda-Stretcher Road
Email: procurement@csbag.org

Deadline: 5:00 PM, 15^th June 2026

Note: The email subject line should clearly state “INEQUALITY STUDY IN UGANDA – 2026”