Census exercise registers early success in Mukono

By Mike Musisi-Musoke and Henry Nsubuga

THE enumeration exercise in Mukono kicked off on schedule on day one, and by 6.30 o’clock, a number of households had gone through the process.  

At Kauga government prison, the officer in-charge Mary Tamale said she had received information that even in remote Koome Islands, enumeration had been successfully concluded.

Without giving numbers, Tamale said, “Acting on an order from the Regional Prisons Commander (RPC), I contacted all units in the district, and I have established that even in Koome prison, enumeration has been concluded successfully”.

Several residents however expressed mixed opinions on the exercise with some wondering whether it will bring an end to the perennial drug shortage in health units, and others optimistic that with our numbers established, service delivery is bound to improve.

Aidah Namutebi Jjingo, a resident of Ntaawo village in Mukono Central Division said they have been frustrated by shortage of items including drugs saying, “we are responding because we are law abiding, but we do not know whether this will create any change”, Jjingo said.

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Mukono Chief Administrative Officer Luke Lokuda (standing left) supervising the census exercise in Kauga prison on Thursday. Photo by Henry Nsubuga

On the contrary, Teo Minaani of the same village expressed hope saying,” we have for long been operating on assumptions, especially given that we are in two years’ census default, but with our numbers known, I am sure government will be in a better position to improve service delivery”.

Mukono Chief Administrative Officer Luke Lokuda who is in charge of the entire exercise in the district, said all modalities for a successful exercise have been put in place, and assured residents of reliable data at the end.

“We trained 1,500 enumerators, sixty-six supervisors and accompanying guides to help census team find their way out, and we have no excuse for failure to deliver,” Lokuda said.

Nassali Rosemary, an enumerator in Kyetume village in Nakisunga sub-county said she had encountered minimal problems, including having to wait for people from their gardens.