National Water staff arrested over sabotage of census

Mr Jude Twebaze, who is attached to NWSC head office in Kampala, was arrested onboard a bus on his way to Kampala.

KABALE | Police in the Kigezi district of Kabale are holding an employee of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for allegation of sabotaging National census exercise.

Mr Jude Twebaze, who is attached to NWSC head office in Kampala, was arrested onboard a bus on his way to Kampala.

The national census, with the Census Night on Thursday, started with roadblocks to screen passengers and ensure compliance with the exercise.

However, in Kabale town, the counting exercise was headed by police patrols who were supervising each and every bus.

The OC station ASP Andrew Akanyijuka said the suspect was arrested last night after he allegedly refused to be counted and also dissuaded other passengers aboard the bus to reject the exercise.

“As we were leading a team of enumerators, when we reached on a Baby Coach bus, Jude Twebaze was so stubborn telling each and every passenger not allow any enumerator to count them," Akanyijuka said.

Police said they first warned the suspect to understand that the census was a government programme but he did not heed.

"I can confirm that he is in our custody at Kabale Police Station,” Akanyijuka added.

Mr Godfrey Nyakahuma, Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), warned against sabotaging the national census.

He reminded the people that the census was important for laying the demographics for effective governmental planning and urged residents to refrain from any actions that could undermine its integrity.

Nyakahuma further stressed the suspect will act as an example to the rest in the public and he will also be produced before courts of law to answer charges accordingly.

“During the census night, the enumerators who were carrying out counting exercise on baby coach got issues with Jude Twebaze, who was refusing not to be counted, we swag into action and we got him arrested," he said.

"I want to call upon all the people of Kabale to take census exercise very seriously, whoever resists will be arrested. I want to also say that the arrested suspect will be taken to courts of law for defying government programme."

The government warned that sabotage of the national census will lead to prosecution with six months in jail preferred by the State.

After every 10 years, Uganda holds a national census and the last census was carried out in 2014.

The 2024 National Census is the first of its kind to use digital technology to collect, process and disseminate census results.

The census figures play a critical role in guiding planning, policy formulation and programme implantation.