Census material distribution begins as UBOS battles recruitment malpractices

The country’s 6th and inaugural digital census saw the dispatch of the first batch of tablets to be utilized in the enumeration process. This followed the comprehensive training of census officers at the national, district, and sub-county levels.

The dispatched consignment was allocated to the districts of Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Gulu, Gulu city, and Otuke. During the flagging off of the consignment, the State Minister for Finance in charge of Planning, Amos Lugoloobi, highlighted the completion of nationwide mapping to facilitate the enumeration process, along with the procurement of all necessary materials.

He emphasized that the tablets, government property, would be utilized beyond the census for activities such as elections. Lugoloobi further noted progress in preparing the workforce for the census, with enumerator training scheduled to commence on April 29, 2024. Training materials have also been dispatched accordingly.

However, Chris Mukiza, the UBOS Executive Director and Census Commissioner, expressed concern over enumerator recruitment malpractices, including the clandestine enlistment of unqualified individuals and those who did not undergo interviews.

Mukiza called for the involvement of security forces, leading to the apprehension of some offenders. Officials found complicit in malpractices have been removed from the recruitment list.

Mukiza cautioned Resident District Commissioners against meddling in census processes, urging them to focus on security provision while leaving technical aspects to his office. He stressed the importance of district leaders rectifying anomalies without disrupting the census process.

Enumerators will be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) for tracking purposes, with each tablet being government property and traceable.

Mukiza emphasized the strict measures in place to ensure accountability, including capturing the enumerator’s photo with the tablet and serial number upon issuance.

“Every enumerator will provide a national Identity card and NIN; we shall capture it, and these tablets are trackable. We have the device, so even if you tell us lies that it has been stolen, whoever is having it will be caught. We shall first incapacitate them and then get them. These are government properties, and whomever is caught holding them wrongfully will pay dearly for it. So, by the time we give you a tablet, we shall take your picture with the tablet and its serial number such that we shall know that it is so and so with this number,” he stated.

Furthermore, Mukiza clarified that the SIM cards in the tablets are specifically designated for data connectivity and submission, incapable of making phone calls. In the event of internet outages, supervisors will gather data via Bluetooth connection and transmit it to the center once internet access is restored.