Catholics and other believers across the country have been urged to participate in the forth coming National and Housing population Census 2024.
Kampala Archbishop Dr Paul Ssemwogerere while meeting officials from Uganda Bureau of Statistics in Kampala said census data information will help in planning purposes and service provision.
“I wish to thank Uganda Bureau of Statistics and government for enabling this very important exercise to progress. Iam aware that the national population and housing census provides fundamental statistical data and information which is necessary for planning our population. The information is not only important for government but also for the church all over the country,”Ssemwogerere said.
” As Catholic church, we pledge our support towards this cause and call upon catholic community and all faithful people to support, cooperate with all the field census staff to provide accurate information during census,” he added.
Ssemwogerere Challenged UBOS officials to ensure data information gathered during census is accurate.
Uganda Bureau of Statistics Board Chairman Dr Albert Byamugisha assured the nation of satisfactory census exercise as Uganda conducts her first digital census on 9th May 2024.
According to Byamugisha UBOS is now in advanced stages of preparation to undertake the national population and housing census.
” The stastical data and information obtained will be used for is planning and policy formulation. The information will further support evidence based decision making abd facilitate investment decisions in varoius sectors of the economy.”he said.
He further said the census information will act as abenchmark forbthe church to understand its population abd their related characteristics and therefore facilitate designing of programmes tgat are beneficial to such communities.
” The census field staff will be clearly identified byban identify card, that shall bear the name, title and district in which they are operating. The team will be guided by the members of local council chairperson or other elected leaders,” Byamugisha stressed.
” I wish to therefore request his Grace Archbishop of Kampala to rally Catholic community and all faithful to cooperate and support tge data collectors by responding and accurately to all questions aimed at generating relevant statistical data and information. All information will be kept confidential and will be only be disseminated asban aggregated data, “Byamugisha explained.
Last week UBOS dispatched tablets and census materials to districts in preparation to census exercise.
While officiating at the event in Kampala State Minister for Planning Amos Lugolobi implored leaders at different levels including Members of Parliament to mobilise their constituents to actively participate in the exercise since it matters to be counted, as the motto says for better planning by government.
Lugolobi said that the tablets will not only be used for the 2024 national census but also other government activities like the Parish Development Model, National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) activities.
“The census information will help us to know who has water and who doesn’t, who has electricity and who doesn’t, which areas have health facilities and which areas do not? This data will aid in planning for the country, so it is very important that the population participates in this exercise,” the Minister.
UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Ndatira Mukiza cautioned RDCs against giving statements about the postponement of the training exercise of the enumerators and supervisors because everything is on course to the D-day, explaining that they have no business in the census apart from providing security.
To ensure safety of the tablets, every enumerator will be required to provide their national identity card and a NIN number and photograph taken before being given a tablet. The tablets are also trackable in case of theft or loss and it can be disabled from the head office of UBOS.
Dr. Mukiza said that the enumerators should use the tablets carefully and protect it with their lives, and that anyone who is found misusing the tablets will be handled according to the law.
UBOs procured 120,000 tablets from a Chinese manufacturer at the cost of Shs141b but they were given a two percent swap, and added 1,240 more tablets as a bonus.
The government of Uganda allocated Shs320billion for the national census exercise.
The last national census was carried out in 2014 with a total population of 34,634,650 but the number is estimated to have shot to over 46 million currently according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
