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Counting people is biblical and that should be embraced by all Christians, Church of Uganda archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu has said.

According to Kaziimba, the counting of the people happened in Exodus (Bible book) under the instruction of God and also during the time of King Caesar in Egypt.

He made the remarks on Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a census sensitisation prayer breakfast. The event was organised by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) for all religious denominations under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda to ask them to join UBOS in persuading the people to participate in the national population and housing census slated for early next month.

Meanwhile, UBOS executive officer Dr Chris Mukiza cautioned faith leaders against stopping their followers from participating in the census saying they have reports on such faith in the Mayuge district.

Police assure UBOS of security

In preparation for the census, the Police said last week they will be conducting security probes to safeguard the officials tasked with carrying out door-to-door activities.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says a security team has been briefed and will be deployed across the country to ensure the safety of census officials during their data collection efforts.

The assurance followed reports that government officials and soldiers around Kampala city and Wakiso district were releasing dogs on UBOS officials.

The Government said these were negative efforts by some households to undermine the 2024 national population census agenda.