UBOS extends census period by one week

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) on Saturday (May 18) announced the extension of census days to enable all people to be enumerated.

The census exercise that was meant to Sunday (May 19) after its official opening on May 10 has been extended to May 25.

According to the communication from UBOS Executive Director, Chris Mukiza, published on their social media X formerly Twitter, the decision was reached after establishing that many people would have been locked out if the exercise was to close on Sunday.

“The Bureau noted that there are enumeration areas which did not start on the 10th due to login difficulties. Another challenge was the geography of some villages missing on the system owing to incomplete listing during mapping and there are also hard-to-reach areas where enumeration was constrained, making the pace of enumeration slow,” Mukiza said.

“In addition, management developed generic logins for villages to enable work to begin, which became effective on the 4th day,” Mukiza further explained.

“Such areas have been given an opportunity to continue with the enumeration until they complete their assignments. This waiver (for mopping up) shall, however, not exceed 25th May 2024,” stated the communication released this evening.

The communication has been sent to the district chief administrative officers, Kampala city Authority, Town clerks and city clerks.

“This is, therefore, to inform you to request the household heads that have not been enumerated during the past days to make an appointment with their LC1 Chairpersons to agree on the date and time when they can be enumerated before the end of the waiver period,” the letter read in part informing the relevant authorities.

In Teso, some enumerators faced the challenge of roads being submerged due to the floods that washed away many bridges.

On the first day of the exercise, the Serere district woman MP who also doubles as state minister for fisheries Hellen Adoa made an appeal for the extension of the period after the enumeration exercise starting six hours late.