Kamuli, (UG):- At least 10 people from three different homes have been arrested for refusing to be counted in the ongoing national population and housing census exercise, DailyExpress has learnt.
The 10 people, all residents of Butefula zone Nawanende parish Bugulumbya sub county Kamuli District are people who believe in the cult called “NJIRI NKALU” who rejected to be counted claiming that this census exercise is satanic according to their cult.
According to preliminary information obtained by this publication, it is alleged that the enumerator had gone to the village for several days but these people were hiding away which forced the RDC of Kamuli District Ms Rose Birungi together with some of the members of the district census committee to have them arrested for sabotaging the census exercise.
Before arresting these people, the government representative tried to convince them to accept to be enumerated but they refused which forced her to order for their arrest.
Ms Birungi said that these people don’t embrace any government programmes like immunisation, they don’t take children to school etc.
“It is very unfortunate that these people don’t embrace any government programmes be it immunisation, they don’t take children to school, even when they are sick they don’t go to hospitals that is why we had to go there and we managed to arrest these people,” Ms Birungi told DailyExpress on Monday evening.
“One of their leaders and head of the arrested group is still on the run but we’re looking for him and we shall arrest him,” she added.
The RDC also warned those who are against this government programme that they will be put in courts of law.
“My warning to each and everyone who is planning to defy this census exercise is; we are going to crack down on you and put you in courts of law because ounce you fail to turn up for this exercise it means we shall not get the accurate data. So I appeal to each and everyone to embrace and get involved in this census exercise “; she said.
She further explained that although they had some technical challenges with the CAPI/Tabs on the first day, the exercise is moving smoothly and the enumerators are doing their work. “Yes, we had some technical challenges at the beginning but now the exercise is moving smoothly, enumerators are doing their work.”
Government of Uganda is carrying out a population and housing census to know the number of people in the country and Monday, May 13th marked the 4th day of the exercise out of ten days. The exercise which started on 10th May 2024 is ending on Sunday 19th May 2024.
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