President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has launched a national appeal, urging citizens to bare their souls (and numbers) to census enumerators, who will soon descend upon households like eager birdwatchers in search of that elusive rare species: accurate data.
In a video message shared by his press team, the President, affectionately referring to the populace as “Bazzukulu” (grandchildren), summoned all and sundry to participate in the upcoming National Population and Housing Census (NPHC). With the seriousness of a general issuing battle orders, he stressed the importance of gathering precise information to chart Uganda’s course toward its Vision 2040, a goal as distant yet hopeful as finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Museveni, not one to shy away from grandiose visions, highlighted the pivotal role of this census data in supporting not only the government but also private enterprises, cultural and religious institutions, civil society, and even the assorted cast of development partners in their endeavors. It’s akin to providing a roadmap for a journey through Uganda’s demographic landscape, ensuring that every twist and turn is navigated with the precision of a seasoned explorer armed with a GPS.
In a masterstroke of civic encouragement, the President appealed for unfiltered honesty from his fellow countrymen and women. “When those diligent data collectors come knocking at your door,” he advised, “open up your hearts and your homes, and spill the beans—figuratively, of course.” It’s a call to arms, or rather, a call to answer truthfully, ensuring that the census takers don’t end up playing a game of demographic hide-and-seek.
Acknowledging the census’s significance in shaping social services provision, Museveni painted a picture of a Uganda where education, health, and transport services flow like the Nile, buoyed by the currents of accurate data. It’s a vision of prosperity fueled by the ink of honest responses and the graphite of meticulously filled questionnaires.
But the President’s appeal wasn’t just a solo performance; it was a call to arms for all stakeholders. From political heavyweights to cultural custodians, from business tycoons to media mavens, from civil society champions to governmental gatekeepers—everyone was summoned to rally behind this national headcount, an exercise deemed as vital as seasoning in a Ugandan stew.
With a flourish of presidential flair, Museveni concluded his address with a rallying cry for a successful census—a census that would not only count heads but also count on shaping the destiny of every Ugandan. “For God and my country,” he intoned, invoking the age-old national motto, a phrase as familiar to Ugandans as the rhythmic beat of a traditional drum.