National census cancelled again, no funds

May 02, 2013

Although the population agency has already spent sh22.7b in preparation for the planned 2013 national census, the Government has once again cancelled the project.

By Mary Karugaba

Although the population agency has already spent sh22.7b in preparation for the planned 2013 national census, the Government has once again cancelled the project.


Finance state minister Fred Omach and officials from Uganda National Bureau of Statistics told MPs on the Finance Committee that although the Government made a commitment to hold the census this year; it will not be possible due to financial constraints.

According to Omach, the exercise requires sh107b, of which sh22.7b has already been incurred in procurement.
 “I agree with your sentiments but right now, there is no money.  Sh107b is a lot of money, which the Government might not get this financial year and I can’t say when a new date will be fixed,” he said.

The Government of Uganda, through the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) had prepared to conduct the next National Population and Housing Census in August 2012. Another census was scheduled to take place in August 2012 but it was postponed to 2013. It was again postponed to 2014.

UBOS acting executive director, Ben Mungereza told MPs that Finance has already communicated the decision to the agency but already sh22.7b has already been spent in preparation for the project.

“We had planned to have the census this year, but the Ministry of Finance has already notified us that it will not be possible since there are other pressing needs in the budget.  This has really affected us and we appeal to Parliament that this money is found,” Mungereza said.

Mungereza advised the Ministry of Finance to provide the money to avoid legal battles with the service providers.
This angered MPs who accused the Government of using 2002 figures to plan for the people whose number they don’t know.

They wondered how the Government could make decisions and priorities for a population whose number it does not know.

“The minister either tells us the new date or we block this budget. How can the Government plan for people it does not know? Since 2002, it has been relaying on projections,” MP Dorothy Nshaija complained.

She wondered whether it will be possible the Government to implement its 2040 Vision without knowing the number of its population.

The MPs advised the Ministry to provide the money through a supplementary budget.

Mungereza also complained that the ministry has also cut the agency’s total budget affecting its data collection and dissemination. ends
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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