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Forum for the Democratic Change (FDC) has asked the government to ramp up public awareness efforts ahead of the upcoming National Population and Housing Census 2024.

Uganda has designated May 10-19, 2024, to carry out the national census.

While addressing the media today, May 6, at the party head office in Najjankumbi, FDC secretary for information and publicity, John Kikonyogo, revealed that the census is a good activity for everyone, adding that however, there are many concerns ahead of the exercise.

“I read an article last week where they indicated that a person will be asked to answer 180 questions. Imagine a situation where you have to answer these questions yet we keep on advocating for the usage of technology.

Why would use ask me for my age yet you have my national identification number (NIN). Why can’t UBOS (Uganda Bureau of Statistics) and NIRA (National Identification & Registration Authority) coordinate to have some of these questions answered,” Kikonyogo asked.

Although this is a very good exercise, many people do not trust the government, Kikonyogo alleged, adding that the government has not sensitised the masses before the exercise.

“I asked to Chief Administrative Officer of our locality if they had written to us about the census so that we could help them publicise it but he just went mute. Recently, even religious leaders have been complaining that they haven’t been approached.

Very soon you will hear reports that the census wasn’t well embraced yet the problem is publicity,” Kikonyogo said.

He added that as a party, they also need this information to plan for Ugandans when they get into power in the coming two years.

Using the same platform, Kikonyogo commiserated with the victims in the flooded areas of Karamoja, the Lake Victoria shores, and Bunyangabu district among others.

Kikonyogo accused the government of not doing enough in the flood-prone areas despite several warnings from the meteorologists.