The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) has revealed that it will carry out the national population census next year, 2022, two years earlier.

Uganda last carried out a population census in 2014. Supposed to happen every decade, the census had delayed over lack of funds. Now, Ubos says it is planning to conduct another census in August and September 2022.

Ubos says it needs Shs138.6bn to carry out the National Population and Housing Census next year (2022).

This was revealed by Ubos Executive Director Chris Ndatira Mukiza while appearing before parliament’s finance committee to present their 2019/2020 financial review.

According to Mukiza, a decade (10 years) from 2014 would be 2024 but the bureau had decided to carry out the census two years earlier to offer date to aid National Development Plan III implementation.

Mukiza also informed the committee Ubos had a deficit of Shs41bn.

This figure includes: Shs2.7bn for purchasing new cars, and Shs6.4bn to pay salaries.

Unemployment rate figures

Debate on the performance report veered into unemployment figures and how Ubos arrives at them.

They wondered how it was possible for the national unemployment to be 9.2 per cent and youth unemployment 13 per cent as indicated in the 2017/2018 Financial Year figures.

“I have always had a problem with the statistics from rural areas. We believe this is where the biggest population of our people stay and the biggest economic activities also take place,” submitted Nakaseke North MP Syda Bbumba.

“But the statistics that come out regarding unemployment and agriculture are wanting. To me, unemployment seems to be far from the truth and I want to understand the tools they use to get these figures.”

Rubanda East’s Henry Musasizi added: “When you look at the statistics and what is happening on ground as far as unemployment is concerned, they do not match.”

Mukiza’s response

There are two issues here which we have been discussing on international standards.

When you look at the international measure of who is unemployed, it is actually astonishing. The International Labour Organisation describes a person who is deemed unemployed to be only that person that is not working and is searching for employment.

So if you are at your father’s home eating food and not looking for a job, you are not regarded as unemployed,

According to the national statistics body Uganda currently has a population of nearly 45 million.