Livestock census: Locals give false data
Feb 19, 2008
Three days into the Livestock census, there are reports of people hiding their stock or giving false data fearing taxation.
By Vision Reporters
Three days into the Livestock census, there are reports of people hiding their stock or giving false data fearing taxation.
In Wakiso district, some people stopped enumerators from entering their premises claiming they could be vaccinated with toxic drugs.
“When they tell you they have no animals, you cannot force your way in. Others claim that past regimes vaccinated their animals with toxic substances so they cannot allow us to count their animals,†Joan Nakirigya, the enumerator in Bulamu zone, said.
Dr. Fred Kalungi, the in charge of Wakiso sub-county, yesterday said he rescued enumerators and a parish local council official from mob justice in Bujjuuko zone, Kyebando parish on Monday.
Kalungi said although the exercise kicked off smoothly in 19 zones, the LCI chairman of Bujjuuko, Dirisa Ddamulira, refused the enumerators from counting animals in his area.
Ddamulira also mobilised locals against the enumerators and ordered the mob to beat them up. “I arrived at the scene in time to plead with the irate residents and Ddamulira has refused to conduct the census until today,†Kalungi added.
In Kibaale district, people resisted the census exercise due to lack of sensitisation, according to Dr. Moses Amanya, the district veterinary officer.
Dr. Stephen Kajura, the census coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture said the districts of Kitgum, Katakwi and Nakapiripirit started the counting exercise yesterday due to a delay in training enumerators.
He appealed to the people to give correct data and assured the public that the census was not for taxation but for planning purposes.
Dr. Mukonge Tegule said the census was smooth in Tororo and Gulu.
All homesteads in the sampled zones with or without livestock were recorded.
In some districts in the west and north, livestock counting had not taken off by yesterday due to logistical problems and a delay in training enumerators who have to interview livestock keepers. The Kiruhura veterinary officer, Dr. Frank Mugisha, said the exercise would kick off today.
Three days into the Livestock census, there are reports of people hiding their stock or giving false data fearing taxation.
In Wakiso district, some people stopped enumerators from entering their premises claiming they could be vaccinated with toxic drugs.
“When they tell you they have no animals, you cannot force your way in. Others claim that past regimes vaccinated their animals with toxic substances so they cannot allow us to count their animals,†Joan Nakirigya, the enumerator in Bulamu zone, said.
Dr. Fred Kalungi, the in charge of Wakiso sub-county, yesterday said he rescued enumerators and a parish local council official from mob justice in Bujjuuko zone, Kyebando parish on Monday.
Kalungi said although the exercise kicked off smoothly in 19 zones, the LCI chairman of Bujjuuko, Dirisa Ddamulira, refused the enumerators from counting animals in his area.
Ddamulira also mobilised locals against the enumerators and ordered the mob to beat them up. “I arrived at the scene in time to plead with the irate residents and Ddamulira has refused to conduct the census until today,†Kalungi added.
In Kibaale district, people resisted the census exercise due to lack of sensitisation, according to Dr. Moses Amanya, the district veterinary officer.
Dr. Stephen Kajura, the census coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture said the districts of Kitgum, Katakwi and Nakapiripirit started the counting exercise yesterday due to a delay in training enumerators.
He appealed to the people to give correct data and assured the public that the census was not for taxation but for planning purposes.
Dr. Mukonge Tegule said the census was smooth in Tororo and Gulu.
All homesteads in the sampled zones with or without livestock were recorded.
In some districts in the west and north, livestock counting had not taken off by yesterday due to logistical problems and a delay in training enumerators who have to interview livestock keepers. The Kiruhura veterinary officer, Dr. Frank Mugisha, said the exercise would kick off today.