UBOS Director Rejects Resignation Demands Over Census Controversy

The executive director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Dr. Chris Mukiza, has firmly rejected calls for his resignation following the release of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census report, which contained several errors. Speaking at a breakfast meeting with journalists and media managers at the Kampala Serena Hotel on October 8, 2024, Mukiza expressed his frustration with the personal attacks directed at him, suggesting that the resignation demands may stem from individuals who have been seeking his removal since 2021.
“Everybody is on Mukiza’s neck. Why waste time on data? Why not say we want Mukiza’s neck?” Mukiza stated, emphasizing his commitment to his role despite the pressure he is facing. He asserted that, despite the inaccuracies in the census, the data will be used as the official statistics for Uganda’s national planning over the next decade. “Don’t expect any other census before 2034. This is the only one you’ll have,” he added.
The census report, which was launched on October 3, 2024, indicated significant population changes among various ethnic groups. For instance, the Bagisu were reported to have a population of two million in 2024, a decrease from 2.3 million in 2014. Similarly, the Acholi population was shown to decline from 2.1 million to 1.9 million. Conversely, the Langi population reportedly surged from 1.6 million to 2.7 million, while the Bakiga population grew from 1.4 million to 2.9 million, suggesting an almost 100% increase.
 (function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push(["_mgc.load"])})(window,"_mgq");
Mukiza clarified that these figures were incorrect, attributing the errors to staff mistakenly swapping the figures of different tribes while comparing the 2024 and 2014 census data. The correct census figures now indicate that the Bakiga number 2.9 million, up from 2.3 million in 2014, while the Bagisu remain at two million, having increased from 1.6 million. The Langi population is now at 2.7 million, with the Acholi at 1.9 million, compared to 2.1 million and 1.4 million, respectively, in 2014.
According to the revised report, Uganda’s annual population growth rate now stands at 2.9 percent, a decrease from 3.18 percent in the previous census. This growth rate measures the change in the number of individuals over a specific period.
The recent findings offer a more comprehensive analysis of Uganda’s demographics than the preliminary results released in June, which only addressed two census questions: “How many are we and where do we live?” The full report provides detailed insights into housing patterns, socioeconomic conditions, and answers to five essential census questions: How many are we? Where are we? How are we living? What do we own? Where do we access services from?
Population and housing censuses are vital resources for national data, providing essential information for development planning and program implementation. The census data also aids in monitoring and evaluating the effects of various national and international development frameworks, including the third National Development Plan (NDP III), Vision 2040, and the Sustainable Development Goals.