Gov't hails greater Kampala opposition leaders for backing Census 2024

This spirit of cooperation, transcending political affiliations, has been hailed by UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza as a critical factor in ensuring an accurate and successful population count.

"We are very pleased that the local administrations have embraced this exercise," Dr. Mukiza declared.

"This has now become a non-political exercise. I am very happy that even those people who are in the opposition are actually embracing it more because they have seen the importance of this census."

Dr. Mukiza's remarks come after a series of successful launches of household mapping and listing activities in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono – all densely populated districts with opposition leadership.

Notably, in Kampala (March 14th, 2024), Dr. Mukiza directly appealed to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (FDC) to become a "census champion" for the city. Similarly, during the launch in Wakiso (March 17th, 2024), Dr. Mukiza met with district chairman Matia Lwanga Bwanika (NUP) and requested his support in mobilizing the community and ensuring a smooth census process.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the positive developments, challenges remain. With just over a month left until census night (May 9th, 2024), UBOS is working diligently to complete the household mapping exercise, currently at 92% completion nationwide. Challenges include ensuring accurate enumeration in Kampala's ever-evolving urban landscape and reaching out to geographically isolated communities.

However, the cooperation between UBOS and local leaders presents an opportunity to overcome these hurdles. Local knowledge and influence can be instrumental in mobilizing residents to participate and ensuring accurate data collection, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.