Census Data Will be of Quality, Dr Mukiza Assures MPs

Dr. Chris Mukiza, the executive director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and Census Commissioner, has asked Members of Parliament to rally their constituents to participate in the National Housing and Population Census 2024.

National Census Commissioner alongside other UBOS management members was speaking during a breakfast interaction with MPs at Serena Hotel on Tuesday to discuss the Census 2024 preparations, among other things.

In his address to MPs on the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Committee, Budget Committee and Committee on National Economy, Dr Mukiza highlighted that Census enumeration starts 10th May 2024.

“After the 19^th of May, we shall have six days to mop up in case there was any household that was enumerated,” he explained.

He added: “We assure the country that this time, we will release the census results within one month.”  

Dr Mukiza also updated the lawmakers on the pre-census activities that UBOS has conducted including the training of trainers who will now train enumeration supervisors and enumerators at the sub-county level and town council level.

“We shall start on the 29^th of April up to the 7th of May 2024. This leaves us two days to prepare. Remember these people are training from where they will enumerate. So, those two days will enable them to get accustomed to the topography of the enumeration areas and the digital maps in case there is a new household that has come up or a village that was not covered.”

A total of 114,460 enumerators and 18,483 supervisors will take part in the exercise.

Dr Mukiza further informed the MPs that over 120,000 tablets have been delivered to the Bureau to aid with the technologically-driven census exercise.

“Each parish will retain two tablets after the Census,” he explained when asked what would become of the tablets after the census.

While responding to lawmakers’ various questions, Dr Mukiza said the census data will be used to probe the Parish Development Model (PDM) Financial inclusion, to lay the base for the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP 4).

“Census data will be of quality, no doubt. As MPs, tell the respondents to give us honest and accurate responses,” he stated.

Concerns raised by applicants

Meanwhile, UBOS has acknowledged the concerns raised about the E-recruitment system and took note of the temporary lapse in the system.

“We are actively working to restore it. Interviews that have already begun remain valid, and applicants will seamlessly resume once the system is operational again. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” management stated in a social media message.

While speaking on the sidelines of the breakfast meeting, Dr Mukiza told applicants of the 2024 national census jobs who were not shortlisted but possess the required qualifications to go to their respective districts for interviews.

“If there is anybody who has not been shortlisted and qualifies and has evidence that they applied, we are asking them to go to the districts and be interviewed,” he said.

According to him, UBOS officers representing the Census Commission will be setting off on April 17 to ensure that complaints are resolved.   

In view of the various National benefits that accrue from carrying out a successful Census, H.E Kaguta Museveni has given an executive appeal to all Bazzukulu (grandchildren) to accord the Census due attention.

Enumeration starts on 10th May, 2024.