Government Halts National Census Over Funds

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) an institution responsible for carrying our National Population Census Country wide every after ten Years has said the exercise may not take place in August as scheduled due to lack of enough funds.
The long awaited National information was revealed by the Deputy Executive Director of UBOS Mr Godfrey Nangabo while addressing the Nation at UBOS Head office in Kampala on Thursday.
He said UBOS had scheduled to carry out National Census in August but it seems the exercise may not go on due to lack of resources.
"Government did not release money for National Census in last year's Budget so as to start planning early," he says adding that conducting it in August may not be feasible. He further says UBOS is making reports to Finance Ministry and Cabinet to extend more time. "We highly believe that Finance Ministry and Cabinet will soon give us the date for conducting National Census but it won't be in August," He emphasised adding the new date will be communicated. He added that Government had given UBOS little money and promised to bring more money. "When the government releases more funds, the procurement process will start," he stated saying that government had promised 10m$ for the whole exercise but even it will not be enough.
He further said that the little money they had was used to do some little work like Mapping which is 62% done. He further revealed that UBOS needs at around shs 132bn for procuring tablets which will be used for data collection during census. He further added that UBOS will employ over 120000 personels to help in conducting the National Census. "This will be the first ever Census in Uganda to be conducted in digital way," Reveals UBOS boss.
He further stated that after conducting the National Census, the tablets will be distributed to different government ministries, like local Government, Lands, Gender, NIRA among others. He also says some will go Kingdoms that have always helped the Government in conducting National Census like Buganda Kingdom, Bunyoro, Toro, Busoga among others.
Mr Nangabo also revealed to public that UBOS won the matter against it's former staff Dhikusooka Henry Munaaba in high court. He said Munaaba dragged UBOS to courts of after he was reshuffled from his position of Head procurement following the recommendation from IGG in 2017. "IGG's recommendation was saying, he was not fit to head procurement and UBOS should take him where he fits. " After the ED made reshuffle, he rushed to courts of law and he finally lost the matter with costs, "he stated. He added the legal team of UBOS will calculate the costs inccured during the hearing and the damage he caused to the institution and will bill him at once.