UBOS Deputy Executive Director Godfrey Nabongo has clarified that the extended national census enumeration period, referred to as the “mop-up period,” is intended to cover isolated districts and areas not yet reached by enumerators.
Addressing journalists at a security briefing held at the Uganda Police Headquarters in Naguru, Nabongo reiterated statements made by UBOS Executive Director Chris Mukiza, explaining the circumstances for the extended period, which runs until May 25, 2024.
Nabongo highlighted that UBOS enumerators faced difficulties logging in on the first day of the census, which began on May 10, 2024. Issues included incomplete village listings during the mapping process and hard-to-reach enumeration areas, further delaying the process.
Mukiza had previously noted that on the first day, 20,000 out of 120,000 enumerators experienced tablet malfunctions, preventing them from accessing the UBOS portal. Additionally, some enumeration areas were missing from the system, as reported by local governments.
To resolve these issues, UBOS developed generic login details for villages, which became effective on the fourth day of the census, allowing work to commence in areas initially left out of the system.
Nabongo also mentioned that the unavailability or unknown schedules of some people in urban areas, particularly in parts of Wakiso and Kampala, has slowed down the process. Enumerators have had to repeatedly check at people’s homes. He urged members of the public to make themselves available or book appointments through local leaders to ensure they are counted.
He identified parts of Wakiso, Kampala, and the Karamoja subregion in the districts of Karenga, Kabong, and Amudat as some of the areas lagging behind.
“The period we are into is the mop-up period, covering areas that we were not able to reach and households that could not be accessed. We’ve also noted that in some urban areas, especially Kampala and Wakiso, many people aren’t available during the day, causing delays in completing the exercise. However, over the weekend, most people were covered,” Nabongo explained.
By midnight on Sunday, a total of 11 million households had been enumerated, achieving nearly 98% coverage. Nabongo encouraged household heads who have not yet been enumerated to seek assistance from their village Local Council (LC) representatives, who will facilitate appointments with enumerators based on their availability before the extension period ends.
Nabongo clarified that the mop-up period is not a new task requiring additional pay for enumerators but a continuation of the ongoing enumeration efforts to ensure no household is left out.
The directive to extend the census process was communicated to Chief Administrative Officers, City Clerks, the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority, and Municipal Town Clerks.
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