The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) has announced that it will not provide additional payment to the enumerators for the six-day extension of the National Census. This decision was communicated by Mr. Godfrey Nabongo, the Deputy Executive Director of Ubos, during a press briefing in Kampala.
The census, originally scheduled to run from May 10 to May 19, encountered several log-in challenges that hindered enumerators from completing their tasks on time. To address these issues, Ubos extended the census period by six days. However, Mr. Nabongo clarified that this extension does not come with additional financial compensation for the enumerators.
“The contract of the enumerators specified the number of days they were supposed to complete the job. We are now asking them to finish what they could not complete within the initial 10 days. We are not paying for extra days; we are paying for the job to be done within those 10 days. So, if the job is incomplete, they should use these extra days to finish it. We are not providing extra money,” explained Mr. Nabongo.
He also called upon local governments to leverage the additional days to ensure the census is thoroughly completed.
Enumerators, who have been receiving a daily allowance of Shs50,000, totaling Shs500,000 for the 10 days, expressed mixed reactions to this decision. Some felt the decision was unfair given the challenges that were beyond their control.
Ms. Mercy Namyalo, an enumerator in Kawempe Division, Kampala, voiced her dissatisfaction, stating, “The challenges that caused the delays in the census exercise were not our fault. So, Ubos is not being fair.”
Conversely, some enumerators viewed the extension as an opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities. Mr. Michael Agaba, an enumerator in Kitintale, Nakawa Division, Kampala, remarked, “Some people in my area had not been counted, so this is an opportunity for them to be enumerated.”
As of midnight on Sunday, Ubos reported that they had successfully enumerated 10.4 million households, achieving 98 percent coverage. Despite this significant progress, the extension aims to ensure that the remaining households are accounted for.
Ubos’ decision highlights the importance of completing the census accurately and comprehensively, albeit without additional financial incentives for the enumerators. This approach underscores the bureau’s commitment to obtaining complete data while managing the logistical and financial constraints inherent in such a large-scale operation. The extended period is seen as a crucial window to address any remaining gaps in the enumeration process, ensuring that every household is included in the national data.
