By Philip Wafula
An enumerator at the ongoing National Population and Housing Census (NPHC 2024) in Namayingo District has collapsed and later died in hospital.
The Namayingo District Local Government Census Officer, Martin Mangeni has identified the deceased as Annet Tibiwa.
He says she had been deployed in Mutumba, where she collapsed on Saturday while carrying out her duties in Bumeru ‘C’ village.
Mangeni says the deceased was immediately rushed to Shalom Medical Centre, where she was admitted, but despite efforts to stabilise her condition, her health deteriorated and she passed away yesterday.
He has described the deceased as a ‘committed and hardworking enumerator who was passionate about her role in the Namayingo District Census 2024’.
“Her commitment to ensuring accurate data collection and her passion for serving the community were evident to all who had the privilege of working alongside her.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Ms Tibiwa’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,” Mangeni said, adding that the body was handed over to her parents in Mulombi ‘C’ in Mutumba sub-county.
This brings to two, the number of enumerator to have so far died during the census exercise, after Andrew Ssali who was also attacked and killed on Saturday by unknown people in Najeera, a Kampala suburb.
Another enumerator identified as James Kalyango of Njeru municipality, Buikwe District, was stabbed by three unknown assailant while he mobilized residents of Namuwaya Village for the exercise in early hours of Friday morning using a megaphone.
Kalyango was supposed to enumerate residents of Namuwaya Village, but decided to first relay some messages on a megaphone at around 6:30am in an attempt to rally masses for the national cause.
Speaking from a hospital bed, he said: “Our supervisor on Thursday night told me to wake up early and relay an announcement on a megaphone, reminding locals that Friday was a Public Holiday, and that they should, therefore, stay home and be counted.”
Asked if there were plans to deal with such unforeseen calamities, including death or injuries sustained by enumerators, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) Spokesperson, Mr John Igumira, said he needed to first establish the facts.
“I am not aware of the death of the enumerator, so I need to first establish facts before I comment,” he said in a brief telephone interview.
President Museveni last December launched the NPHC 2024, whose outcome will be crucial in guiding planning, policy formulation, and programme implementation as well as monitoring development progress in line with the national goals and objectives.
The 2024 census exercise kicked off on May 10 and is expected to end on May 19 except in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso where it was extended by one day to May 20 due to technical glitches were experienced on Day One.
