Written By |
A Census enumerator collecting data from a business woman in Mbarara city, Western Uganda
Search
Several cult leaders and believers have been detained in different parts of the country for allegedly refusing to be counted in the ongoing national enumeration exercise.
In the wake of the Police-led arrests yesterday, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) condemned the actions of these groups, saying they undermine the critical national exercise.
The Police in Luweero district confirmed the detention of one Nevas Vella, who allegedly proclaimed himself ‘Jesus Christ’ and some of his believers, for declining enumeration purporting that the census was against their faith’s tenets since they were already counted by the administration of heaven.
“Me I am counted by God because I told you I came from heaven, and I am not a member of this world. That is why you cannot count me with meAdminmbers of this world. I am a different person,” Vella told detectives and journalists after being detained at Luweero Central Police Station on Monday.
According to the local political authorities in Luyima village, Katikamu sub-county in Luwero, where Vella has his ‘prayer Centre’ known as Star Glopper Eden, for the last three to four years the group has spent in the area, they have declined to participate in any government programs, including sending their children to school and vaccination programs.
The Luweero district Police commander, John Elatu Ojukana, confirmed the arrest of Nevas Vella, wondering what him and his group were doing on earth if they belonged to the government of heaven.
UBOS is pacing against time to have all the over 8.7 million households in the country enumerated by May 19, 2024, and it has today entered its sixth day since May 10.
Under the theme, ‘’It matters to be counted,’’ enumerators are moving from door-to-door from 6:00am until dawn every day to collect data from residents of households found within the borders of Uganda on the census/reference night of May 9.
Kamuli
In Nawanende-Butafula zone, Bugulumbya sub-county in Kamuli district, another act of census sabotage was recorded by the Police and 10 members of a cult identified as Njiri Nkalu were arrested, including their 80-year-old female pastor.
The suspects who included seven school-going age (13 -17) girls and a 35-year-old man, were arrested from their homes in Nawanende-Butafula zone in Bugulumbya sub-county.
This was after the Kamuli Resident District Commissioner, Rose Birungi, reportedly got information that the cult locals dubbed Ekidiini-diini was opposed to the census enumeration as satanic.
“We peacefully went to request them to relent, but we found when they had locked themselves inside the houses, singing the songs of praise and saying endless prayers. We requested them to voluntarily surrender and open the door to deaf ears,” Birungi said.
The Police, according to Birungi, used reasonable force to break into the house to arrest the group. Efforts to persuade the group against their stance, was allegedly ignored before they were led to Kamuli Central Police Station.
“Shoot me or all of us dead.! We will die in the Lord’s name but not be counted. God counted us long ago. Even then, God knows even those who are yet birthed,” the group leader shouted on top of her voice as her colleagues shouted back; ‘Halleluiah ...Amen.”
Birungi said the cult pastors misinterpret the Bible scriptures to among others condemn government programs as satanic.
Busoga North Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed the arrests, noting that the suspects will be charged with sabotaging the government program, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
Namuyingo
In the neighbouring district of Namanyingo, a 65-year-old man was also arrested for refusing to be counted.
Dominic Omollo, who is said to be the leader of the 999 cult (Njiri NKalu) in Mutumba sub-county in Namanyingo was detained in an operation led by deputy RDC Namayingo district, Solomon Trevor Baleke.
According to Baleke, Omollo resisted enumeration, citing religious beliefs that deem the census satanic.
“When our enumerator arrived at the home of Omollo, he told him that being counted was satanic and his faith doesn’t allow it. He added that the ongoing government program is aimed at handing over the masses to Satan,”Baleke said.
According to Baleke, Omollo will be forcefully enumerated in the Police detention facility and subsequently be brought before the court.
According to the Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, all files against the census saboteurs, including cult leaders and believers, have already been sanctioned for prosecution.
UBOS speaks out
According to Didacus Okoth, the UBOS senior public relations officer, they engaged leaders at district level up to the community level, including religious leaders, civil society fraternity to support and demystify some beliefs against census.
“Our call has been one that they continuously encourage their population and their communities to participate in census because it is good for all of us. The findings of the census do not segregate anybody but instead supports planning for each and every one who leaves in this country,” he said.
He added; “So we continue to encourage the leaders to speak to such people and encourage them to appreciate the benefits of being part of the census count.”
On Monday UBOS reported that 2.6 million households had been enumerated out of the 8.7 million mapped for the first digital census. UBOS is set to provide the second update on the exercise progress tomorrow (Thursday) at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
This is the 11th time Uganda is conducting census since 1948 and the sixth after independence.
The last census was in 2014, results showed that Uganda had a population of 34 million people and it is projected to have since grown by 12 million more people to 46 million. However, this can only be verified through a national census.
Call for data law
In the wake of enumeration hesitation challenge, the executive director of the National Planning Authority (NPA), Dr. Joseph Muvawala, has called for the enactment of a data law in the country.
“I think this country in future will need a data law which requires you to give us data whether you like it or not or if you are working in this country like MTN and you collect statistics, you should be obliged to hand it over to the country because it is not your statistics,” Muvawala who is also the Busoga Kingdom prime minister said.
He was speaking to journalists after being enumerated at his residence in Kivubuka village, Jinja Northern division in Jinja City.
“I have been informed that some hospital administrators are not cooperating, those are our staff and we will take action. I would like to personally warn government officials that it is easier to get to you than to get other people who are in private,” Muvawala said.
Enumerator delivers baby
In Kiryandongo district, an enumerator in Karuma town council gave birth on duty.
Doreen Acaba went into labour while on duty and was rushed to Diima Health Center III in Diima sub-county where she gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy on Monday, May 13, 2024.
Washington Ocaya, the census supervisor in charge of Karuma town council, said both the enumerator and the child are in good health.
