More investment is needed in family planning services to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths in Uganda, population experts have said.
If more funding was provided it would help mothers delay or allow more time between each birth, according to Ms Janet Jackson, the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund.
Ms Jackson, who was speaking ahead of July 11's World Population Day, said that if mothers were able to space their births it would lead to a good quality population.
She said: "We should not be looking too much into the numbers - whether they are too many or too few people but the people behind these statistics."
At present in Uganda four in 10 women want to be able to stop or limit their childbirth. However, they do not have access to family planning services such as advice and contraceptives.
This lack of support has seen women giving birth to more children, and has fed a rising population.
Demographers have warned that unless family planning services are made available, the population - currently at 31 million - will explode.
This could lead to the government having problems providing services such as education and healthcare.
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