Kalungu Census Thrown into Disarray by Technical Glitches and Traffic Woes

Kalungu district's census night turned into a frustrating ordeal for both enumerators and residents as technical glitches and traffic congestion crippled the process.

The night began with a sense of purpose. Census enumerators stationed themselves at Lukaya town council's road toll from midnight, armed with digital devices to ensure an accurate headcount. However, their enthusiasm was quickly dampened by technical failures. The much-vaunted digital equipment simply refused to work, rendering them helpless.

Faced with a non-functional digital system, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) resorted to a manual approach. This involved stopping every vehicle passing through the toll booth and manually registering occupants. While travellers expressed a willingness to participate, the process quickly devolved into a bureaucratic nightmare. The combination of slow manual registration and inexperienced enumerators created a logjam, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The frustration was palpable. Commuters, eager to reach their destinations, found themselves stuck in a queue that stretched on endlessly. Even with the best intentions, the slow pace of manual registration made it difficult to accurately capture the district's population data within the designated timeframe.

Kalungu District officials acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Fausta Naluggwa, the District planner, confirmed the complete failure of the digital equipment. This left enumerators scrambling, forced to rely on their personal smartphones – a less than ideal solution for such a critical national exercise.

While the technical glitches were a major concern, another factor threatened the integrity of the census – the potential for political interference. Dr. Paddy Kayondo, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), issued a stern warning against such attempts. He emphasized the importance of maintaining neutrality and efficiency throughout the census process.

The chaos in Kalungu serves as a cautionary tale. A well-functioning digital system is crucial for an efficient census. However, technical backups and alternative methods must be in place to mitigate unforeseen failures. Furthermore, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic and clear communication with the public are essential for successful data collection. The Ugandan authorities must learn from these missteps and implement corrective measures to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the national census. Only then can they obtain the population data necessary for informed decision-making and effective resource allocation across the country.