The 2024 National Population and Housing Census, which was conducted between May 9 and 19, indicated that the country’s population had increased from 34.6 million in 2014 to 45.9 million in 2024.
Few hours after the release of the main report of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) on October 3, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) found a hard time to cool down the angry population that had been hurt by their glaring mistakes in the census results. As we end 2024, we reflect on the entire census activity.
The reduction of Acholi population from 2,131,443 in 2014 to 1,941,913, 10 years later, and their Bagisu counterparts from 2,390,975 to 2,096,149, caused queries about the authenticity of the entire census results.
The census, which was conducted between May 9 and 19, indicated that the country’s population had increased from 34.6 million in 2014 to 45.9 million in 2024.
First digital census
Uganda, last year, conducted the first digital census in the history of the census exercise since 1911. The government spent Shs132b to procure more than 100,000 tablets that were used by the enumerators during the exercise. This was part of the Shs339b entire census budget.
Unlike previously when enumerators would record household information on hard papers before transferring the information to the computer for computation, this time they recorded directly and then sent to the main dashboard for compilation.
Ubos Executive Director Chris Mukiza said the tablets allowed enumerators to input data immediately, which helped ensure all households were reached, including those in rural areas.
He added that the digital system allowed for faster data collection, analysis, and distribution, adding that the use of tablets reduced the costs associated with paper-based systems such as printing, transport, and storage.
Census results
The country’s population increased by 11.3 million, from 34.6 million recorded in 2014, according to the NPHC main report.
According to the results, the population of the Baganda increased from 5.5 million in 2014 to seven million in 2024; Banyankore from 3.2 million to 4.2 million, Basoga from 2.9 million to 3.7 million, Iteso from 2.3 million to 3.1 million, Bakiga from 2.3 million to 2.9 million, Langi from 2.1 million to 2.7 million, Bagisu from 1.6 million to two million.
Of the total 45.9 million people, 37.4 percent are Catholic, followed by Anglican, who make up to 30 percent; Pentecostal make up 14.7 percent, Muslims (13.6 percent), and other religions make two percent of the total population, while those without any religion are one percent.
The results also indicated that seven out of every 10 households in rural areas are now living in their own homes, indicating a decline as compared to 2014, when the rate of rural households owning housing units was at 83 percent.
The rate of households renting houses in urban areas dropped from 50 percent registered in 2014 to the current 13 percent. In the villages, however, the comparison of the two reports show that four out of 10 households are renting compared to the 12 percent rate in 2014.
More Ugandans are now living in iron sheet-roofed houses, and the number of those living in grass-thatched houses has dropped by 7.1 percent.
At least 53 percent of households are residing in single-roomed units compared to 47 percent in 2014. Those in double-roomed units are declining.
Access to television has also grown from 13.9 percent to 39 percent, with the census showing a big proportion of Ugandans are now accessing information using televisions. Ownership of radio sets has reduced from nearly 60 percent to 41 percent.
The number of Ugandan households accessing improved water sources has also increased in the last 10 years both in rural and urban areas.
Piped water remains the major source of clean water for urban dwellers, while rural households majorly access clean water from protected springs and boreholes.
The reports show Uganda is food-insecure, with severe food insecurity recorded in Karamoja and northern region at 33 percent rate.
Contrasting results
Ubos was embroiled in the result scandal when Bagisu and Acholi people criticised their initial results that were indicating a reduction in their population.
The bureau, after public protests, pulled down the main census report from its website, which had contradicting figures that wrongly showed that the population of Acholi had dropped from 2.1 million people to 1.9 million, and the Bagisu to have fallen from 2.3 million to two million people.
Speaking to the media after correcting the results, Mr Mukiza explained that the error arose after the population figures for the Bakiga was erroneously given to the Acholi, while the figure for the Acholi was erroneously given to the Langi, and that for the Langi given to Bagisu and the Bagisu given to Bakiga.
Shortly after this correction, different religious institutions also protested the results.
The Uganda Muslims Supreme Council (UMSC) wondered how Ubos came up with results indicating that the population of Muslims was only six million yet their own national registry, reportedly updated the previous year, indicated that the number of Muslims had grown to nine million people.
In the same spirit, the Pentecostals also protested the results, saying the entire findings fabricated.
Barely a fortnight after the result release, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda also described the results as “frivolous” and “obnoxious,” after they indicated that the number of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) had reduced from 12.7 percent to 5.7 percent.
“Any right-thinking Ugandan would expect that the total population of PWDs is above 12.4 percent and not reduced to 5.7 percent. Ubos should analyse and provide disability prevalence statistics broken down by districts to inform targeted programming and resource allocation,” NUDIPU chief executive officer, Esther Kyozira, said.
Paying enumerators
At least 4,000 enumerators, part of the team temporarily hired to conduct the exercise, were by August still demanding their payments. Ubos hired 119,000 enumerators and district parish supervisors but reports indicate that only 114,327 had been paid their agreed wages by August.
The statistic body tagged the delay on the failure by the affected enumerators to provide their registered mobile money numbers.
Overall, Ugandans welcomed the census, although some said they were not counted, questioning if the numbers fronted by Ubos are indeed correct. However, 2024 remains the year in history when Uganda conducted the first digital census, although it was dominated by glitches and inconsistencies.
