In a groundbreaking initiative, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is on the verge of completing its first-ever digital National Housing and Population Census.
The digital Census, initially met with skepticism, has now been confirmed with the dispatch of the first batch of 3,410 tablets to Northern Uganda. The Minister of State for Finance, Honorable Amos Lugolobi, ceremoniously flagged off the dispatch from UBOS’s warehouse in Ntinda, a suburb of Kampala.
The tablets, along with other essential materials like T-shirts and bags, were sent to several districts including Gulu, Gulu City, Apache, Aliputong, Amulat, and Atuke. UBOS’s Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, alongside Dr. Albert Byamugisha, Chairman of the Board, and other top officials, oversaw the dispatch.
Minister Lugolobi assured the public that the government’s allocation of 320 billion Ugandan Shillings for the digital Census has been fully utilized, leaving no room for financial irregularities. He emphasized that all census materials, including tablets, have been procured, and training for trainers and district supervisors has been completed. The remaining step is the training of enumerators, scheduled to commence on Monday.
Urging widespread participation, Minister Lugolobi called upon leaders at all levels to mobilize the population for the Census, emphasizing the confidentiality and importance of the data collected. He highlighted that this data would facilitate resource allocation based on community needs, identifying areas lacking essential infrastructure like power, schools, roads, hospitals, and security.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chris Mukiza issued a stern warning to Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) attempting to disrupt or delay the training in their districts, emphasizing that such actions are beyond their mandate. He also cautioned Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) against harboring individuals shortlisted illegally, thanking security and other government agencies for their support in transporting Census materials across the country.
