The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is gearing up to conduct the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2024 over a span of 10 days, from May 9 to May 19, 2024.
Dr. Chris Mukiza, the Executive Director of UBOS, announced on Monday, March 25, 2024, that the 2024 census will be executed digitally. This approach aims to ensure the collection and capture of precise information, while also promoting environmental conservation and time efficiency.
“We will not be relying on paper. This will be a paperless census; there will be no cumbersome books or questionnaires. Instead, we are translating these inquiries into digital formats and deploying them on tablets. By doing so, we are eliminating the need for extensive paper production, thus safeguarding our environment,” stated Mukiza.
This initiative follows President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s inauguration of the NPHC 2024 activity on December 12, 2023. Uganda conducts a national census every decade, with the previous one being conducted in 2014.
Mukiza emphasized that the data collection process will encompass gathering, error correction, editing, and other tasks, ultimately facilitating faster data analysis compared to previous years.
“When enumerators input information at the headquarters, their actions are supervised by parish supervisors. If mistakes are made, they are promptly rectified, ensuring data accuracy. Enumerators cannot proceed to the next question if errors are detected. We have implemented checks to maintain data integrity,” Mukiza explained.
Census statistics play a pivotal role in guiding planning, policy formulation, program implementation, and monitoring development progress aligned with national objectives.
Mukiza underscored that utilizing tablets contributes to environmental conservation, particularly amid Uganda’s climate change challenges. Saving trees through paper reduction is a significant contribution from UBOS.
Furthermore, Mukiza highlighted the census’s purpose, which is to ascertain Uganda’s accurate population count and identify individuals requiring essential services, security, improved infrastructure, clean water, and enhanced standards of living. The census encompasses not only population data but also housing statistics.
“We aim to assess the housing conditions of Uganda’s residents. Are there still people living in mud houses as there were in previous years? This inquiry is crucial for understanding socio-economic transformation. We need to determine if progress has been made or if challenges persist,” noted Mukiza.
The census will leverage digital technology for data collection, processing, and dissemination, enabling UBOS to produce accurate and timely demographic, social, and economic statistics.
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