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With a few days remaining to the national census, many myths about the national exercise are threatening its success.

One of the myths in the Mount Rwenzori communities is that counting children is a bad omen and can lead to death. As a result, previous statistics about the population numbers in the region have been inaccurate since many parents give inaccurate information about the sizes of their families in a bid to 'protect' their children's lives.

To counter such beliefs the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has engaged the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) cultural institution to sensitise all its subjects about the importance of the census.

A UBOS team led by executive director Dr Chris Mukiza On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, visited Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere at his palace in Kasese municipality.

Mukiza said by virtue of the fact that Mumbere is a cultural leader, he is trusted and listened to by his subjects, therefore, his leadership is key in ensuring that the subjects positively participate in this year's census.

"He has agreed to be enumerated first and this will be a clear signal to the subjects," Mukiza said.

The UBOS boss disclosed that this year's census will capture records of people's clans to ascertain the strength of each in their different cultural institutions as requested by the cultural leaders.

"We are taking records of clans for the first time," he said.

A group photo including the Staff of UBOS pausing with the Mumbere and Kasese district leadership

Mumbere also attributed the failure of the previous census exercises in the Rwenzori to politics and social tensions that took place in the region from the 1980s. These include the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel activities that caused insecurity and cultural conflict that saw people seek refuge in other countries.

"Personally, this is going to be my first time to be counted as a resident of Kasese," Mumbere said.

"Most of the census activities found me in America although I was counted as a resident of Kampala where I was staying together with my family in 2014," he added.

Mumbere, however, urged the leadership of Kasese including the district LC5 chairperson, the Residents District Commissioner (RDC), and the chief administrative officer (CAO)  to also sensitise the people and have them count on the success of the exercise.

What others said

Busongora South Member of Parliament Gideon Mujungu Thembo commended the Government for dropping charges against Mumbere. According to him, the move has restored joy among the residents of the kingdom.

"I know people will also accept to be counted," Mujungu said.

Kasese LC5 chairperson Eliphaz Muhindi assured UBOS of the census' success in the district because sensitisation programmes are ongoing.