In a recent press statement, Mr Godfrey Nabongo, the Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), reiterated the bureau’s commitment to conducting the upcoming National Population and Housing Census. Assuring key stakeholders, especially the Ugandan public, Mr. Nabongo highlighted that the country is on track to deliver the first-ever technologically driven census, which will significantly improve the timeliness of results compared to traditional paper-based methods.
UBOS has been actively engaged in various pre-enumeration activities, with several milestones already accomplished. Census committees have been established at the national, district, and city levels, ensuring comprehensive coverage and effective coordination. Furthermore, the development of census instruments, including household, institutional, and community questionnaires, has been successfully completed. These instruments underwent rigorous pre-testing, and a recently conducted census pilot has provided valuable data for analysis.
The bureau has made significant progress in geo-mapping households and enumeration area boundaries, with completion reaching approximately 62%. This meticulous process enhances data collection accuracy and ensures a comprehensive representation of Uganda’s population.
Securing funds from the Government of Uganda demonstrates the commitment to conducting a successful National Population and Housing Census. The allocated resources will support the remaining pre-census activities, including procurements, publicity, recruitment, training of census staff, and the development of digital maps.
Mr. Nabongo emphasized that the census results will serve as vital indicators to guide planning, policy formulation, program implementation, and monitoring of development progress in alignment with the objectives of the NDP I (National Development Plan I). The data generated will also contribute to the formulation of the NDP IV and the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), aiming to enhance Uganda’s overall development strategies.
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Nabongo acknowledged the active participation of local governments at various levels throughout the country in the pre-census activities. Their cooperation and collaboration play a crucial role in ensuring the success and accuracy of the upcoming census.
Furthermore, the data generated from the census will be instrumental in monitoring international development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the East Africa Integration Agenda. This demonstrates the significant impact of Uganda’s census data on regional and global initiatives.
Mr. Nabongo reiterated the Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ commitment to its vision of becoming a world-class National Statistics Office. With unwavering dedication to fulfilling its mandate, the bureau is set to deliver accurate and timely statistical information to support evidence-based decision-making.
The countdown to the technologically driven National Population and Housing Census is underway, showcasing Uganda’s commitment to leveraging technology for efficient data collection and analysis.
