By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Uganda’s population has reached at 45.9 million people, UBOS reported.
Dr. Chris Mukiza, UBOS Executive Director while at the release of preliminary of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census results at Serena Hotel Kampala said that the country’s population has increased by 11.3 million people from 34.6m counted in 2014 to now 45.9m.
“We now have a population of 45, 935, 046 people, up from 34.6m people counted in 2014. Of these, 22 million people are males while 23 millions are females,” said Mukiza.
The figure includes 780, 061 refugees who were found and counted in Uganda on census night.
In May, UBOS carried out a countrywide first ever digital NPHC which commenced with a census night on May 9 upto May 26, 2024.
During the release of the results, Mukiza highlighted some of the challenges faced by the bureau thought the census exercise such as refusal of some religious cults from being counted, geographically unmapped areas on UBOS system, failure to access some households for example those which had single occupants who would leave home early anf return late in the night and some individuals who refused to be counted, among others.
He said most of the defiant religious cults were mainly predominant in the Busoga region.
“We are releasing these preliminary census results exactly 31 days after closing of the census. What we promise as UBOS we deliver.” Dr. Chris Mukiza, Executive Director UBOS.
President Museveni who presided over the ceremony to release the preliminary results said population census is now explained using science unlike in the past where people thought they were being counted for witchcraft and rituals.
“I appeal to Ugandans to completely abandon old superstitions about the census. People used to think that it would bring bad luck, but this is not true. Things have changed. What was once considered witchcraft is now scientifically explained. There is ample evidence that what truly matters are scientific laws.” – President Museveni
The cost of census, Mukiza said; “was 1.9$ per person, compared to 2.1$ spent in Kenya. We visited 11 million households,” “Our data is very accurate and robust. We hope the United Nations won’t make noise again [that they have more accurate data than ours.”
Mukiza noted that the bureau will conduct a post-enumeration survey next month (in July) to ascertain the quality of census data in regards to content and coverage and thereafter undertake data analysis and publication of the final results in September, 2024.
