Museveni happy with growing population in Uganda ahead of census
Dr. Albert Byamugisha, the Chairperson of the UBOS Board of Directors disclosed that the UBOS Act No. 2 of June 11th, 1998, establishes the bureau as a principle data collecting and disseminating agency responsible for the coordinating, monitoring and supervising the national statistical system.
President Yoweri Museveni while launching the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2024 at Kololo Independence Grounds said he is pleased with the growing population of Uganda and Africa as a whole.
“Africa used to be under populated. Remember that Africa is about 12 times the size of India; you can fit India in Africa 12 times. India is 1 million square miles while Africa is 12 million square miles.
“However, until recently, India had a bigger population than Africa but now Africa has taken over the population of India and by 2025, the population of Africa is estimated to be 2.5 billion, it will be the biggest in the world,” Museveni revealed.
“This means that all this time, for 4 and a half million years, Africa has been under populated. Why? Because Africa is good for the man and his enemies like mosquitoes, Tsetse flies, microbes, Ebola, what a view! All of them are here.
“So, to see that the population is now growing is a mark of success of the post-Independence governments of Africa. Here in Uganda, it’s a dramatic example because the population was only 14 million in 1986 but it is now estimated to be 46 million; it has grown up to almost 4 times. Why? People are not dying as they used to die and the ones who live, live longer,” he added.
Census set for May 2024
On the issue of the upcoming census, Museveni said the nationwide exercise will begin on the night of May 9, 2024, and the next day, May 10th, 2024, will be observed as a public holiday to enable a big number of Ugandans to be counted.
“The aim of the counting seems to be how many people? Where are they? How are they? What do they own? And where are the services? These are the questions which will be answered,” he said.
“These questions are very crucial so that the government can plan for you better because you cannot plan properly for people you don’t know. Let us get the census so that it gives us the answers to all these questions, then we shall be able to know how to help them (Ugandans) better. The purpose of the counting is mainly planning,” he asserted.
Why census is important
The census figures play a critical role in guiding planning, policy formulation, programme implementation as well as monitoring development progress in line with the national goals and objectives.
The census exercise that will take place on the night of 9th May, 2024, will use digital technology to collect, process and disseminate census results.
The digital census will enable the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) to produce accurate and timely demographic, social and economic statistics.
According to UBOS, the country’s current population is estimated at 45.5 million, with a growth rate of 30.4 percent.
Census is good for proper planning
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said the census is a very important undertaking and it’s an age-old event. He said: “If you are counted it means now the government will know that you are there, it will plan for you, and you will get better services. Therefore, we want to call upon Ugandans to participate in this exercise.”
The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Planning), Amos Lugoloobi explained that the census is a statistical operation in which all units of interest are enumerated in accordance with the UBOS Act 1998.
“It is only in census that one can obtain a detailed understanding of the entire population and its characteristics at the same time. The census is the main source of demographic and socio-economic statistics in any country, it collects information and produces indicators such as household based data on population, on housing, on agriculture, micro and small enterprises as well as community-based data,” he said.
Lugoloobi noted that census gives the government a complete picture of a nation at a given time such as the number of people living in a specific locality and the conditions under which they live.
The Executive Director of UBOS, Dr. Chris Mukiza revealed that the government of Uganda contributed 98 percent to fund the National Population and Housing Census 2024.
“This one is the first of its kind. The previous one of 2014, government funded 75 percent and then partners funded 25 percent so now we are becoming self-sustaining, and this shows the strong interest and commitment the government of Uganda has in evidence- based planning and policy management,” he said.
The representative of the UNFPA in Uganda, Gift Malunga commended the government of Uganda for prioritizing the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. This commitment, she said, is evident in the impressive track record of funding the majority of previous census undertakings.
