PM Nabbanja Tasks UBOS to Use Census Data for Enhanced National Productivity

A key point of interest raised by the Prime Minister was the need to harness Uganda’s growing population as a demographic dividend, especially in terms of boosting the domestic market for locally produced goods and services.
KAMPALA – Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urged the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) to ensure that the data from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census is effectively utilized to boost national productivity and improve service delivery.
Nabbanja called on stakeholders to engage with the census findings, emphasizing that the insights should directly influence policy formulation and implementation for the benefit of Ugandans.
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Speaking as the chief guest during the release of the final census report, Nabbanja lauded UBOS and all participants for their efforts in successfully conducting the census, noting that the data collected will play a crucial role in shaping Uganda's development path.
She highlighted that the census goes beyond counting the population, serving as a tool to assess critical indicators of national growth.
“The census data provides us with a clear picture of how we have been doing and what needs to be improved. It’s not just about numbers; it's about planning and developing strategies to transform the lives of Ugandans,” Nabbanja said.
Key Findings and Their Implications
The census, which is the first since 2014, reveals that Uganda’s population has grown to 44.6 million, an increase of 10 million people.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that this growth is likely a result of improvements in the health sector, particularly through immunization campaigns and the expansion of healthcare facilities such as Health Centre IIs, IIIs, and IVs.
Nabbanja urged government ministries and agencies to use the census data to fine-tune the implementation of critical programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), which aims to elevate Ugandans into the money economy.
She also emphasized that the census results will help the government address key challenges like poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment.
“This data is essential for understanding how to reach the ordinary Ugandan at the grassroots level. It will guide the government in ensuring that development initiatives like the PDM are targeted toward benefiting those most in need,” she stated.
A Call for Deeper Stakeholder Engagement
Nabbanja encouraged stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, and local authorities, to engage deeply with the census findings to enhance planning and decision-making.
She emphasized that the data should inform strategies to meet Uganda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve key sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
"The census results provide crucial demographic and socio-economic indicators such as life expectancy, fertility rates, education attainment, and household welfare. These are critical to ensuring that our policies reflect the needs of the people,” Nabbanja noted.
She also urged UBOS to ensure the wide dissemination of the census findings at all levels to promote data-driven decision-making in various sectors.
A key point of interest raised by the Prime Minister was the need to harness Uganda’s growing population as a demographic dividend, especially in terms of boosting the domestic market for locally produced goods and services.
She stressed that population growth should be viewed as an opportunity to enhance economic productivity and drive the country’s development agenda.
“As we move forward, we must look at how to turn this population growth into a market advantage. We need to ensure that our local industries benefit from this increase in demand,” Nabbanja said.
She concluded by emphasizing the need for all government entities to interrogate the census data and use it to improve planning, policy formulation, and service delivery.
The Prime Minister reiterated her call for UBOS to ensure that the final report of the 2024 census is disseminated widely and used to inform development planning across sectors.
She noted that by translating the data into practical solutions, Uganda can take significant strides toward achieving its long-term development objectives.
With those remarks, Nabbanja officially declared the National Population and Housing Census 2024 final report received by the government, emphasizing that it “matters to be counted.”