Friday declared public holiday to facilitate start of census

The government has declared Friday, May 10, 2024, as a public holiday.

This is in order to enable citizens to fully participate in the sixth National Housing and Population Census, which starts on Friday and will run for ten days.

Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service in a letter dated May 7, 2024, to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, requested her to relay the information on all media platforms.

“The Honorable Minister of Public Service informs the general public that Friday, May 10, 2024, is National Population and Housing Census Day and will be observed as a public holiday throughout Uganda, to enable people to be counted pursuant to the Public Holidays Act 1965,” Bitarakwate said.

The exercise will be carried out by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).  

On Monday, UBOS board chairperson Albert Byamugisha while speaking to the media at the Naguru Police headquarters, said the public is encouraged to stay at home during the census period and cooperate with enumerators to ensure accurate and comprehensive data collection.

He said the census which will run for ten days from May 10 to May 19, aims to gather crucial information about the country's population and housing demographics.

The activity kicks off on Thursday, May 9, when the 114,460 enumerators and their 18,483 supervisors get to work door-to-door.