UBOS Engages Inter-Religious Council Leaders on Census 2024 Findings

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has held a dissemination meeting with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) Council of Presidents to share the findings of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census and discuss their implications for public debate and national development.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Vicent Fred Ssenono, Deputy Executive Director of UBOS, said the Census 2024 results point to notable improvements in the country’s health and demographic indicators.

“Life expectancy has risen sharply — from 63.7 years in 2014 to 68.2 years in 2024,” Dr. Ssenono said. “Women continue to outlive men, averaging 70.1 years compared to 66.9 years for males.”

He added that child survival has improved significantly, with mortality rates dropping from 45% to 34% over the past decade. “This is a major stride in child healthcare progress and a testament to the investments made in maternal and child health services,” he noted.

UBOS Executive Director, Dr Chris Mukiza, commended the IRCU for providing strategic guidance to the Bureau and reiterated UBOS’s commitment to strengthening data literacy and capacity within stakeholder institutions.

“We are committed to supporting the Inter-Religious Council and other partners in building capacity for data analysis,” Mukiza said. “This will ensure that census findings are used effectively to inform policy, development programs, and community interventions.”

Mukiza also highlighted that UBOS has recently published detailed Area Profiles from the Census 2024 Main Report, providing statistics down to the parish level. “The report contains vital information on total population, number of households, and related demographic characteristics,” he said.

“This data is essential for implementing the Parish Development Model and for guiding both national and international development frameworks.”

The engagement with religious leaders is part of UBOS’s wider effort to ensure census data reaches diverse stakeholders who influence community action and public discourse, helping to shape Uganda’s development trajectory.