Return home for census, Kotido locals told

Aug 12, 2014

With two weeks left to the National census, people of Kotido district have already written letters and made phone calls to their relatives living outside Kotido to return for census.

By Godfrey Ojore

With two weeks left to the National census, people of Kotido district have already written letters and made phone calls to their relatives living outside Kotido to return for census.

“I have already called my brother who is in Mbale to return to be counted here so that when government is allocating us services we shall be able to get enough,” said Ruth Meron of Kotiang sub-county.

A 75-year-old Longroputh Okalang of Locokil parish blamed under development in the region to backwardness among people who think that when they participate in census they will loose their cattle.

“Most people are ignorant about census especially those deep in the villages because they are not sensitized on the benefits of census. We lack a radio to disseminate information faster to our people,” Okalang said.

The leaders are spreading the same gospel as well as sensitizing the people at all levels to embrace census when the day comes.

“I encourage my people to embrace census because it’s the only way government can help us with adequate service. In the same spirit I encourage you to call your relatives living outside Kotido to join you,” said the district vice chairperson, Rose Chilla.

Over 30 sub-county supervisors and parish enumerators have been trained to handle the census and on Monday they conducted mock census.

Mock census is an activity where the census team move across the district sensitizing people on what to be required of the people on census day.

“The team has been equipped with skills on what to do on the day of census and the team includes the army, police and prison officers who shall be mandated to carry out census in their barracks,” said Muminus Matovu the district census technical person.

However, during the mock census on Monday, officials were asked by locals whether it was right for them to increase the number of people in each household.

“Most people thought that the census is all about food distribution so many were asking officials to allow them increase the number of members in their household so that they can get more food,” said Joseph Orisa the district information officer.

The excises saw over 1200 people reached in the sub-counties of Kanwati and Town council and they are supposed to cover the district before 28th.

Orisa however, admitted that lack of information among people is responsible for ignorance.

However, the Catholic Church has promised to build a radio in Kotido to easy communication.

“The antenna has been built and we are now left with switching the radio on air,” said the catholic bishop of Kotiso dioceses, Bishop Phillipe Joseph.

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