Buganda kingdom premier Charles Peter Mayiga has urged Ugandans to embrace the national census, saying the Government exercise is not a pretext to find new people to tax.

Rather, he says it is intended to get vital information for proper planning.

He was speaking at the kingdom's headquarters, Bulange in Mengo, Kampala as he hosted a delegation from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), headed by the entity's executive director Dr Chris Mukiza, who checked on him to register interest in the 2024 Kabaka Birthday Run on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

“I urge people to go and get counted and give information that UBOS requires," he said.

He said using census data,  for example, the Government will be able to know the proximity of social service centres such as schools and hospitals to citizens to know underserved areas in the country.

Such information is vital because it can be used for improving service delivery in the country and for planning purposes, he added.

Katikkiro Mayiga handing over Kabaka Birthday Run Kit to Dr. Mukiza whose team bought kits worth five million shillings.

"So, on May 10, 2024, get counted, don’t be afraid because I, too, will be counted,” he said.

Mayiga thanked UBOS for collaborating with the kingdom, especially by periodically publishing the Manya Esaza Lyo report.

Manya esaza lyo or 'Know your County' is a compilation about Buganda that reveals key data about the kingdom.

“Right now, we know which counties in Buganda have the least number of pit-latrines. So, the campaign to wash hands must be strongest in those counties,” he said.

“Presumably, if you don’t have a pit latrine, then you use the bush and matters of hygiene need to be emphasized in that area,” the Katikkiro said.

Mayiga added that they are also now aware of the areas in Buganda that have more people that live in permanent structures and where the concentration of semi-permanent structures are.

According to him, this will help them as they roll out poverty eradication campaigns to support their subjects in years to come.

“The reason people stay in grass-thatched structures is because they don’t have money. So, it important that we partner with you so that you can render us your expertise and we rebuild the kingdom,” he said.

Katikkiro Mayiga addressing the UBOS team at Bulange-Mengo on Tuesday April 2,2024

During the event, Mukiza thanked Mayiga for embracing the census, adding that this would go a long way in convincing the subjects that the Government of Uganda means well.

He implored the Katikkiro to request the King to also accept to participate by allowing him to be counted, a message Mayiga accepted to deliver to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.

The Government last held the National Population and Housing Census in 2014. At that time, the results indicated that Uganda had a population of 34 million people and while it is now estimated that there are 46 million people in the country, this can only be verified through a national census.

The exercise will help the Government to acquire vital statistical information, including how many people there are in Uganda, where they are, and what they own, for economic and social development planning and administrative purposes.