Census: Ugandans in diaspora to be excluded from exercise

_____________

Ugandans in the diaspora will not be part of the 2024 national census despite requests by the group to be included in it.

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) executive director Dr Chris Mukiza says it would be logistically difficult to do so under its current budget.

"We shall have information about Ugandans in the diaspora but in the total count, they will not take part," he says.

(L-R) John Bosco Ikojo Chairperson Parliament Committee on national economy, Chris Mukiza Executive Director UBOS with Amos Kankunda chairperson finance planning and economic development Parliamentary committee interacting during the UBOS breakfast engagement. (Photo by Godiver Asege)

However, Mukiza adds that Ugandans who will not have left the country by midnight of May 9 will partake in the exercise.

"The day of counting will be May 10 and has been declared a public holiday to enable us to find as many members of the public as possible at their residence," he says.

Information needed to be counted

According to Mukiza, those who will not be part of the exercise but have any member of their household who can competently answer the questions from enumerators will have their information captured.

He made the revelation about the Government decision while meeting Members of Parliament (MPs) at Kampala Serena Hotel on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to update them about the progress the bureau has made in the run-up to the national census.

The delegation of MPs was headed by Amos Kankunda, the chairperson finance planning committee and John Bosco Iloojo, the chairperson parliamentary committee on national economy.

Mukiza assured the MPs of a quality census, saying in their work, they ensure that their statistics are an exact reflection of what exists in the country.

He added that while some of the findings may not be palatable, the public must desist from dismissing them without any valid evidential backing.

"When the report comes, we need to do an introspection to ensure we address those shortcomings that are affecting the well-being of our country," he said.

Members of Parliament posing for a photo with UBOS Staff. This was during the UBOS breakfast engagement with Members of Parliament on census activities in Kampala. (Photo by Godiver Asege)

He revealed that very soon (in June) they will release the poverty status report of the country and other socioeconomic characteristics.

"We are also currently undertaking the manpower survey which will give us the demand of manpower that we have so we can help those who are in manpower planning," he said.

He said they will also release the estimates of gross national income (GNI) which will be part of the budget speech.

He said although those estimates are preliminary, they revised them in their October report.