Police in Wobulenzi Town Council, Luwero District, have made arrests following resistance to the ongoing National Housing and Population Census (NHPC).
Daniel Kikonyogo, the Local Council 1 chairperson, reports the apprehension of a self-proclaimed messiah named Jesus and his followers for their refusal to participate in the enumeration process. Jesus, who identifies as Jesus Navas Vera, the leader of Star Glopper Eden Church, and his adherents evaded enumerators by going into hiding.
According to John Ojokuna, the Luwero District Police Commander, the self-styled Jesus adamantly declined to be counted, citing opposition to the government program as outlined in the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Act. Concurrently, over 100 families in Kamira Sub County, Luwero, adherents of the Enjiri cult, have also rejected participation in the census, labeling it as Satanic.
The census, themed “It Matters to be Counted,” began on May 10, 2024. UBOS disclosed that approximately 30% of the nation’s 8.7 million households have been surveyed within the first three days.
Dr. Albert Byamugisha, UBOS’s chairperson, announced the deployment of additional enumerators in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area to meet the May 19th deadline. Moreover, an extension until May 20th was granted for Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono districts to compensate for technical glitches experienced during the initial days of the census.
