MJAAR

Beyond GDP: An Examination of Uganda’s Economic Growth and the Lag in Subjective Well-Being Gains

Dr. Arinaitwe Julius, Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kazaara


Abstract

This study examined the paradoxical relationship between Uganda's sustained economic growth and the persistent lag in subjective well-being improvements among its citizens. Using a cross-sectional research design, secondary data from the Uganda National Household Survey and Afrobarometer surveys (2005-2023) were analyzed, comprising 15,000 households and 25,000 individual respondents. Univariate, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses were employed to assess trends in GDP growth and well-being indicators, identify determinants of subjective wellbeing, and examine differential impacts across population subgroups. Results revealed that despite macroeconomic expansion, mean subjective well-being scores remained moderate (62.39 out of 100), with significant disparities across income quintiles, employment status, geographic locations, and access to basic services. Bivariate analysis demonstrated statistically significant associations between well-being and employment status (χ²=702.94, p

Keywords

Economic Growth
Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Cite This Article

Arinaitwe Julius & Ariyo Gracious Kazaara (2026). Beyond GDP: An Examination of Uganda’s Economic Growth and the Lag in Subjective Well-Being Gains. Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.68598/mjaar.269

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