Uganda postpones national census due to lack of fundsBy XINHUA | Saturday, May 19  2012 at  16:15

The Ugandan government on Friday announced that it had postponed the national enumeration exercise schedule for August for another 12 months.

Male Mukasa, executive director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, told reporters in Kampala that the suspension was due to the financial constraints the government is facing.

"We did not mobilise all the resources that we required to undertake the exercise," he said. He said the statistics agency needed $58.3 million to carry out the count, but was only able to get $10.8 million.

The postponement of the exercise supposed to be carried out every 10 years would cost the government another $3.7 million, according to the official.

This is not the first time the Ugandan government has postponed a census which, according to Mr Mukasa provides crucial data that is needed for a country to be able to plan, monitor and evaluate its programmes in improving the livelihood of people.

In 1990, the exercise was put off to 1991, and in 2001, it was pushed to 2002.

During the exercise, people are counted classifying them into their gender, economic activity and number of children among others.

Meanwhile, Mr Mukasa said Uganda will enumerate all Ugandans in its territory, including the Migingo Island, which is also claimed by Kenya.

He said the statistics agency is duty bound to carry out the exercise on the border island located on Lake Victoria.

Uganda and Kenya are in talks to resolve the ownership of the island.