Uganda Census 2024: A slay queen gets counted.

Uganda Census 2024 is coming to an end. Well, depending on the time you’ll read this. The process was welcomed with a pint of salt and nyanya mbisi, but overall, it was successful. What dominated the conversation were the questions asked. On social media, people made jokes about some questions. Trust Ugandans to turn a serious campaign into satire. And since you’re already here, this is a typical Kampala slay queen’s census session.  

What’s your name?

My girls call me Mimi The Queen. But you can call me Momo. It also works.

Both names?

Kyoka naawe! Mimi Nabby (short for Nabukenya).  

And sex?

I haven’t slept with anyone since (proceeds to think), but you know what, that’s TMI. Can’t someone do their business without being judged? Duh (rolls eyes).

Madam, I mean, are you female or male?

I’m a girl, can’t you see? My pronouns are soft life and princess.

What’s your age?

It depends on who’s asking, duh. A girl never mentions their age. Anyways, I am 25. I finished Uni in 2009.

NIN (do you have a national ID)?

What for? Only card that matters is my face card.

What’s your marital status?

Again, it depends on who’s asking. You mean single-single? Or sometimes single? This is Kampala, you know. I’m for the streets.

How long have you been here?

Uhm…I’ve been here for 3 months. I don’t even know why I pay rent. I’m always away, you know. Always on the move. You should have just found me at Bandali Rise. I am rarely here.

Occupation, what do you do for a living?

I’m a businesswoman. Don’t ask me (looks away shyly).

Uganda Census 2024 comes to an end.

A population Census is the process of carrying out a total count of all persons within the territorial boundaries of a given state at a given period of time and disseminating the findings.

The census exercises which started on 09^th May, 2024, came to an end. After every 10 years, Uganda holds a national census with the last one being carried out in 2014.

The census figures play a critical role in guiding planning, policy formulation, and programme implementation as well as monitoring development progress in line with the national goals and objectives.

Census, if well executed, shapes tax policies, improves the tax system, and potentially elevates the tax-to-GDP ratio by identifying taxable populations.

Objectives of Uganda Census 2024

The main objective of undertaking the NPHC 2024 is to provide essential information on the spatial population distribution, age and sex structure, as well as other key socio-economic and demographic characteristics.

Other specific objectives include the following:

• To develop an area sampling frame for utilisation in the subsequent surveys.
• To generate user oriented demographic and socioeconomic data from the NPHC 2024 disaggregated by key background variables.
• To avail data for benchmarking purposes at the national and lower government levels e.g for the implementation of the Parish Development Model.
• To provide an accurate count of the people, where they are and what their needs are.
• To guide central and local governments in resource allocation.
• To identify and plan for special interest groups (i.e Children, Widows, Ethnic minorities, the disabled etc).
• Avail benchmark inclusion and social protection information for the implementation of other major national programs such as the periodical electoral roadmaps, birth registrations and the mass rollout of National Identity Cards (IDs).
• To evaluate, analyse and disseminate the census results at various levels.
• The census data is also used as a critical reference for ensuring equity in distribution of wealth, government services and representation nation-wide i.e distributing and allocating government funds among various regions and districts for education, health services, delineating electoral areas at the national and local levels, measuring the impact of development initiatives etc.

The Census is a national activity for the public good. Therefore, the entire Ugandan citizenry are the main key stakeholders and targets of the census.