KAMPALA — The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has released the National Population and Housing Census 2024 Community Module (Volume 6), providing a detailed snapshot of service delivery, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions across communities nationwide.
The report, disseminated on Thursday morning, is expected to strengthen community-level planning, improve targeting of public services, and support evidence-based decision-making in government.
According to UBOS, the findings cover key areas including financial services, health, education, agriculture, environment, and community safety, offering what officials described as “a comprehensive picture of how Ugandans access essential services at the grassroots.”
The Bureau said the data will be instrumental in closing planning gaps. “This report is envisaged to facilitate community-level planning and strengthen service delivery across the whole country,” UBOS said in a statement.
Expanded access to financial services
The report shows significant penetration of financial services across the country, with mobile money, microfinance institutions, and deposit-taking institutions increasingly present in communities.
It indicates that microfinance institutions are available in 82.9 percent of communities, while deposit-taking institutions stand at 64.4 percent, and commercial banking services at 49.3 percent.
UBOS noted that mobile money services are now present in 69.6 percent of parishes, underscoring the growing role of digital finance in rural and urban livelihoods.
Improved health infrastructure coverage
On health, the census shows continued expansion of service availability, with 232 hospitals recorded nationwide, including 81 government-funded facilities.
According to the report, 61 percent of districts and cities have at least one hospital, while Health Centre IV coverage is reported in 87.7 percent of districts.
UBOS also highlighted the distribution of lower-level facilities, noting that 2,142 Health Centre IIIs are operational nationwide, with the majority government-supported.
Education access continues to expand
The education findings show that 78.5 percent of parishes have at least one primary school, reflecting broad access to basic education services across the country.
Of these schools, 58 percent are government-founded while 44.9 percent are privately operated.
The report further shows that 72.3 percent of sub-counties have at least one secondary school, while almost all districts (96.6 percent) have at least one BTVET institution.
Agriculture and climate challenges persist
The report also highlights the central role of agriculture, with rainfall identified as the most common source of water for production, reported in 97.2 percent of parishes.
However, communities continue to face challenges including crop diseases, limited land, and lack of improved seeds—each reported in more than 94 percent of parishes.
Livestock farmers also reported theft and pests as major concerns.
Environmental pressures and climate change
UBOS findings show that 66 percent of parishes have wetlands, while 59.7 percent contain natural water bodies and 43.9 percent have forest cover.
However, environmental degradation remains a concern, with wetland encroachment reported in 50.5 percent of communities.
Climate change impacts are also widely felt, with 75.7 percent of parishes reporting changes in rainfall patterns and more than 63 percent experiencing famine and drought.
Community safety concerns
On security and social wellbeing, the report indicates that theft and burglary are the most commonly reported crimes, affecting 87.7 percent of parishes.
Domestic violence remains widespread, reported in 91.3 percent of communities, while child marriage is recorded in 62 percent of parishes.
Leadership calls for evidence-based planning
UBOS Executive Director and Census Commissioner Dr Chris N. Mukiza said the report is intended to support stronger planning and accountability at all levels of government.
“The Community Statistics Monograph provides benchmark data and statistics for community profiling,” Mukiza said. “It highlights the social dynamics of communities in Uganda, the facilities and services accessible, and challenges experienced while accessing them.”
He added that strengthening administrative data systems will be critical in closing existing information gaps. “I appeal to the public, planners, policy makers, researchers and academia to make use of this information,” Mukiza said, adding: “It matters to be counted.”
The release of the Community Module is expected to guide government investment priorities as Uganda continues efforts to improve service delivery and reduce inequalities in access to essential services.