The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has come under fire from the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, over its handling of the 2024 national census results.
Ssenyonyi criticized the agency for failing to properly inform the public about crucial data corrections and accused UBOS of attempting to downplay errors in the initial report.
During an oversight visit to Statistics House, Ssenyonyi urged UBOS to be more transparent in statistical reporting and take responsibility for restoring public trust in the data.
Flawed Data and Public Backlash
“You promised us that the final report would be released in December 2024 after issues were identified in the initial report,” Ssenyonyi stated.
“The first report was met with public backlash due to errors. I expected that when the corrected report was released, it would be launched properly to address the negative perceptions that had already formed about UBOS.”
He argued that simply uploading the corrected report to the UBOS website was insufficient, given the significant public scrutiny surrounding the census data.
“Many people still aren’t aware that a final, corrected report has been released. The corrections should have been highlighted louder than the original errors,” he added.
UBOS Defends Its Actions
James Muwonge, UBOS Director of Methodology and Statistical Coordination Services, acknowledged that errors had been made but defended the agency’s approach, stating that making corrections public was part of UBOS’s commitment to statistical integrity.
“It’s true that there were errors, but when such errors are identified, the principle is to acknowledge them and make the corrections public. That’s what we did,” Muwonge said.
However, he welcomed Ssenyonyi’s suggestion for increased public awareness. “We’re following our roadmap, and the report was uploaded by December 31, as planned.
The next stage is the rollout, and we appreciate your guidance on this matter,” he added.
Opposition Questions UBOS Leadership and Credibility
Ssenyonyi also questioned UBOS’s handling of data discrepancies, particularly regarding ethnic and tribal group classifications.
He accused UBOS of failing to reach out to affected communities and properly explain the corrections.
Furthermore, he criticized the absence of UBOS’s Executive Director, Chris Mukiza, and Deputy Executive Director, Vincent Ssenono, from the meeting, suggesting that it indicated a lack of seriousness in engaging with Parliament.
“I was expecting the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director to be here. Their absence might suggest that you don’t take us seriously,” Ssenyonyi remarked.
Ssenyonyi further accused UBOS of obstructing his oversight efforts, revealing that UBOS liaison staff had blocked communication channels with his team.
“UBOS was given UGX 328 billion in taxpayer money for the census, and we need to take our oversight role seriously. If we are serious, we expect you to be serious too,” he added.
UBOS Maintains Its Stance
Muwonge defended the decision to proceed with the meeting despite the absence of senior UBOS officials, explaining that delaying it further would have sent the wrong message.
“We’re not undermining you. We recognize your role in holding us accountable. The Executive Director had hoped to attend, but when he couldn’t, it seemed better to hold the meeting than to postpone it again,” he explained.
As scrutiny over the census continues, the opposition remains steadfast in demanding accountability, urging UBOS to take corrective measures that restore public trust in the national data collection process.
