Remarks at the Launch of the National Population and Housing Census 2024

SALUTATIONS:

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni;

The Prime Minister, Hon. Robinah Nabbanja;

Honourable Ministers in your respective capacities;

Honourable Members of Parliament;

Your Excellencies, The Ambassadors;

Development Partners;

All Ugandans participating in this event;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Development Partners and the United Nations system in  Uganda, I am honoured to witness this important event, the launch of the 2024 Uganda National Population and Housing Census.

This 6th Post-Independence Population and Housing Census (NPHC) and the first digital census to be undertaken in Uganda is a significant milestone. This huge investment is evidence that Government values the critical role of data and statistics as we strive to achieve the Uganda Vision 2040, whose ambition is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Africa Agenda 2063.

Globally, every 10 years, the UN announces a round of censuses, during which each country is expected to conduct a complete enumeration of its population. The current 2020 round, which started in 2015 and ends in 2024, is nearing its conclusion. We are delighted that Uganda will be undertaking its census in May 2024, fulfilling this obligation.

The population and housing census is one of the most complex and massive undertakings for any country. It requires extensive collaboration among various stakeholders, including the government, development partners, private sector, civil society, and the general public. This collaboration is crucial to providing the technical and financial resources necessary for a successful census, but also obtaining the right information from which the census results are generated.

Your Excellency,

It is only with adequate, timely and accurate data that we can be able to tell our development story and formulate policies that respond to the current and future development challenges, threats and opportunities. In today's fast[1]paced world with an ever-changing development context, multiple vulnerabilities and risks to sustainable development, the demand for reliable and up-to-date data to inform decision making at all levels can only grow stronger.

For example, Uganda has a majorly young, energetic and fairly educated population that is facing a myriad of challenges, but also with the potential to exploit the many opportunities in their communities and elsewhere. To make informed investments in this young demographic, we require accurate and timely information about their demographics, location, and activities. The census provides this vital data, empowering the government, development partners and private sector players to tap into this valuable human capital resource and unlock its potential for national development.

Your Excellency,

I would like to commend your Government for its continued prioritization of the National Population and Housing Censuses. This is evident in the  impressive track record of providing the majority of funding required for undertaking the censuses. For the 2024 Census, the remarkable 91 percent funding from Government sources demonstrates your unwavering dedication to this crucial national exercise and sets a positive example for other developing countries.

Furthermore, I commend Government's bold embrace of the power technology and innovation. By opting for a digital census, Uganda joins a growing trend across Africa and globally in leveraging modern technology to generate data and evidence, including through the censuses, in the most efficient, accurate, and transparent manner. In the countries that recently concluded their censuses, preliminary results have been produced in less than two months – which is unimaginable with traditional paper-based methods.

Your Excellency,

We, the United Nations System and the entire Development Partner community, are incredibly proud to walk this journey with Government in this endeavour. We have come together to offer our support and expertise, ensuring that Uganda's first digital census is conducted successfully and we

will continue to support the National Statistical System in other endeavours. As part of our commitment, 12 UN agencies operating in Uganda have collaborated with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics to develop a three-year USD 42 million (appr. UGX 160 billion) Joint Programme for Data and Statistics that will be launched next month. Partners are also supporting ongoing efforts to upgrade administrative data systems using cutting-edge technology to enhance data quality and utility in informing policy and planning processes. These are just a few of the many initiatives through which development partners are supporting the generation, dissemination, and use of data and statistics in Uganda.

We count on Government’s continued leadership in creating the enabling policy and legal frameworks that respond to today’s needs and building stronger partnerships with other actors in the data ecosystem, including private sector and civil society.

Your Excellency,

I close by reiterating our commitment to the success of the 2024 Uganda National Population and Housing Census. We stand ready to continue providing support throughout the process, ensuring that the census adheres to the highest international principles and standards. We firmly believe that the data generated by this census, coupled with our ongoing collaboration, will be instrumental in driving sustainable and inclusive growth for all Ugandans.

Thank you.