Uganda has the unfortunate title of being one of the nations on the United Nations list of least developed countries and its inclusion on the list is due to a number of interconnected reasons. This landlocked East African country was colonized by the British in the late 1800s until gaining independence in 1962 (The World Bank, 2014). Since breaking free from British rule, the Republic of Uganda has been in the midst of a series of intermittent conflicts that have proven to be major obstacles to its development. More recently, there is an ongoing civil war with the Lord's Resistance Army, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of over one million residents (World Bank, 2014). Political violence, combined with poor infrastructure, poor food security and serious health problems such as HIV/AIDS, has led Uganda to become one of the world's poorest nations. This worrying economic situation is represented by the fact that almost 40% of the Ugandan population lives on a daily income of less than $1.25 (World Bank, 2014). When considering the major development challenges Uganda has faced in the decades since its independence, there is one in particular that stands out above all others: rural poverty. The Ugandan government has made great strides in reducing poverty across the nation. , as the nationwide poverty rate fell from 56% of the population in 1992 to just 24.5% in 2009 (World Bank, 2014). The decrease in poverty is evident especially in urban areas, while a greater number of rural areas are still rooted in poverty (Ellis, 2003). This is a significant concern for the nation's development, as 84% ​​of the population lives in these rural regions (World Bank, 2014). More...... middle of paper......Moreover, among their many other tasks, rural Ugandan women have the responsibility of making sure their families are well fed and caring for the sick and elderly ( Okidi & Mugambe, 2002). Of all the problems plaguing the development of this African nation, rural poverty is certainly one of the most significant problems, if not the most difficult to overcome. There are many reasons why rural poverty has become such a big dilemma, and the reasons are described above. Uganda has made notable progress compared to other African countries in similar situations, but it still has a long way to go if it wants to support growth and incorporate rural regions into its economic plans. In conclusion, Ugandan rural poverty is a high-impact problem that affects many levels of Ugandan society and must be addressed for the country to prosper in the coming years.