The population census according to Mr Chris Baryomunsi, the minister of Information, technology and National guidance will come a year earlier than expected on 25th August 2023.
“There will be a National Housing and population census next year. As you know, we carry out censuses every 10 years to establish the number of people in the country and the households as well as a number of parameters and indicators that we use to measure the progress we are registering, but also get statistics which are important for planning and budgeting, and we did set the night of 24th August leading to night of 25th August 2023? as the census night, so the census night shall be that night of 24th August leading into 25th August…” Chris Baryomunsi stated.
This was the 5th post-independence Census in Uganda.
The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) usually carries out census every 10 years, and with the last census having been held in 2014, the year 2022 had been earmarked.
The previous census have faced delays. There was a delay in 2002, then UBOS conduced the one of 2012 in August 2014. The Census 2014 was carried out under the theme “Counting for Planning and Improved Service Delivery” and the Census Reference Night was the Night of 27th August 2014.
The UN mid-year population for Uganda, for the financial year 2020/21, is said to be 47.1 million. However, the government of Uganda’s official population projection for the same period is 42.4 million, resulting in a 4.7 million difference.
The Executive Director of National Statistics body, Chris Mukiza said they have already kicked off the mapping of various districts ahead of the exercise.
“We have already started mapping the districts and the exercise will be done till May 2023. Then we shall be conducting the census the same year around August.” He noted.
Mukiza said during the mapping exercise, the numerators will be looking out for the smallest unit, the resources required and also demarcating the country into smaller administrative units right from the village to the districts.
The Mapping will also help in establishing the location of physical features, and community-based variables especially the source of clean water, types of health facilities, schools and availability of manpower in those facilities.
Government intends to spend a total 330 billion shillings on the exercise, which will include the purchase of equipment to be used as government moves away from analogue to a digital system. The last national population and housing census was carried out in 2014.
