UBOS Expands Distribution Of Census Tablets To Additional Districts Ahead Of Deadline

By Gad Masereka

In abid to beat census preparations deadline, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has dispatched first consignment of census materials to districts namely Gulu, Apac, Alebtong, Amulatar and Otuke.

The consignment was flagged off by Minister of State for Finance and Planning Amos Lugolobi in Kampala.

Uganda’s digital census will take place on May 10th and everyone has been encouraged to participate in census exercise for better planning purposes.

The 2024 census road map was launched by President Museveni on December 12, 2023, declaring May 09, 2024 census night and May 10th a public holiday.

Amos Lugolobi assured the nation that the programme in on course, urging Ugandans to remain at home for efficient counting since it has been declared public holiday.

“The procurement of the census materials has been concluded including tables. The tablets will also be utilzed by electoral commission during elections in the NIRA activities, and other government programmes,”

Lugolobi said that recruitment of census field staff and interviews at the lower levels have been concluded.

“Training of census staff has been undertaken both at national and regional levels. The training of numerators and their supervisors will commence on April 29, 2024. So, almost over 80% is done, just minor issues are left,”he stressed.

The Minister however called upon all leaders to mobilize their communities to support and participate in the census.

UBOS Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza explained that each of their tables has one map of a given numeration area which will make the exercise more efficient and easier than before where work was manual.

“We are glad tables came in time. We have partnered with Airtel and MTN who provided us with lines with APN, and widened our bandwidth by 8 times. We have to make sure the tablets are on network to relay information on time.”Mukiza explained.

He noted that Kigezi sub-region and other districts like Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, Butambala, Mpigi and Kalungu are also ready for dispatch.

Mukiza asked every Ugandan to encourage each other to embrace the census and participate while responding to all enumerators’ questions as truthful as they can.

UBOS coordinates the National Statistical System and provide quality demand driven statistics that supports policy, decision making, research and development initiatives.