Summary:

• Rwenzururu King Mumbere pledges support for the 2024 census, emphasizing its importance for governance and promising to mobilize community participation.

Rwenzururu’s monarch, King Charles Wesley Mumbere, has voiced his support for the 2024 National Housing and Population Census, vowing to promote census awareness throughout his realm.

In a gathering on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at his palace in Kasese town, western Uganda, King Mumbere met with Dr. Chris Mukiza, the Executive Director of Uganda Bureau of Statistics and Census Commissioner.

“This will mark my second census since birth. The 2014 census found me residing in Kampala with my royal household,” he remarked. “But now, I eagerly await being counted within the bounds of my kingdom, a first for me.”

King Mumbere attributed his limited census participations to the nature of his life’s journey, including periods spent abroad, particularly in America. He expressed willingness for full cooperation between his cultural institution and UBOS to ensure the census’s success.

“Previously, there were cultural misconceptions regarding census, but today, such myths have faded with enlightenment,” he asserted. “It’s imperative for every country to have an accurate population count for effective governance.”

The monarch assured his commitment to rallying communities for census participation, underscoring the importance of government planning based on accurate demographic data.

Dr. Mukiza affirmed the confidentiality of individual information and highlighted the historical and biblical precedent of census-taking, dismissing misconceptions surrounding it.

After the meeting, Dr. Mukiza emphasized the king’s endorsement of the census and his dedication to mobilizing public participation, underscoring the importance of sensitization efforts to ensure a comprehensive count.