The aftermath of the release of the 2024 Nation Census report was dominated by discussions about the errors in the ethnic data errors. This effectively hampered the in-depth analysis of the report. Little attention from academics, scholars and the media was paid to the depth of data that this report was providing.
The data the report holds shows significant changes in the Ugandan society’s standard of living and should be studied and used for the greater good of the country. The 2024 census report, when carefully analysed, is a very good tool for planning at both national and local levels.
The Census report has data on various categories, which include; Households and household characteristics, agriculture, education and literacy, subsistence economy, food security, and Information and Communication technologies, among others. These are substantial areas of great interest whose data was compiled during the census and key markers of the growth of the country and economy. It is useful for comparative purposes of where we have been and where we are going as a nation.
Housing remains “a basic human right, essential for the well-being of all mankind,” and in Uganda, the improved numbers in this category have a profound impact on the health, welfare, and economic productivity of the local citizens in line with SDG Goal 11, which emphasises “the importance of ensuring access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing.”
The housing sector in Uganda has undergone remarkable change, growing its contribution to the country’s GDP to an average of 5-7%. this also impacts sector components such as construction material, labour and spending on housing services such as rents, rental tax, and utilities paid by the users. The table below shows several characteristics crucial in analyzing the share of both investment and consumption of utility services which contribute to the annual GDP accounts of the country.
The majority of Ugandans have been living in huts across the country but this is gradually changing to iron-sheet roofed units and the adoption of essential services such as electricity, piped water and improved road services.
It has not been an easy journey but with a safe and secure environment , Ugandans are motivated to build homes, as places of comfort and security. It has taken root in all regions of the country including Karamoja with a view that a permanent shelter reinforces the idea that other services will be derived from a place where one lays a foundation, more than a roof over a citizens head.
Other factors get resolved and upgraded alongside improved housing. Improved sanitation is crucial to the health of the population. This includes issues such as; sources of drinking water , types of toilet facilities by the households, and solid waste disposal.
Accordingly, the National Census 2024 81% of households in Uganda had access to improved water sources for drinking while 19% are still accessing their water from unsafe water sources. However, the report notes that one of the key barriers to access to safe water is the long distances to the sources. Below is a map showing the proportion of homes within one KM from the safe water source by sub regions.
The improved status in housing and housing characteristics calls for an intentional government intervention in one way or another. Most importantly with the current census results, the government has got to help the citizens to access affordable housing through the “provision of subsidies, low-interest loans and tax credits to encourage more home ownership.” The government must also take policy initiatives that bring down the cost of construction.
With almost 20% of Ugandans relying on poor water sources, there is need for more focus to be put on improving access to clean water and proper sanitation across the country as this will inadvertently impact on the health situation in most of the affected areas such as Karamoja where open defecation is still in practice.
With improved home ownership, the reliance on wood fuel for cooking which poses a health risk will reduce as many of the home owners are more likely to adopt clean and renewable energy sources such as solar and biogas. The government is also currently piloting a project on access to cheap gas as well as electricity access through the Energy Access Scale-up Program (EASP).
These two should be cases studies on how to upscale access to clean cooking energy, going a long way in addressing both health concerns of the country’s citizens but also conserving the environment. are poised to achieve positive awareness in terms of health benefits of using clean and affordable energy. The 2024 National Census report should be analyzed by policy analysts and technocrats as a foundation for relevant and holistic planning for the country.
Andrew Kiiza, MPM – University of Potsdam.
The writer is a policy analyst majoring in
