Now, Old persons also complain about UBOS census figures

HANU raise concerns on understatement of figures for older persons in the census provisional results

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The HelpAge Advocacy Network Uganda (HANU) has warned that they have found substantial anomalies on Older Persons data in the current Census Report 2024 released on October 3.

Namara Arthur Araali, the chairman of HANU addressed the press today, noting that life expectancy has increased from 63 to 70 for women, a clear indication that Older Persons population has gone higher than what the Bureau of Statistics (UBOS census revealed. He argued that what he considered faulty data could be caused by substantial errors either in data collection, analysis and presentation, or errors across the processes.

“I convey a message on behalf of our constituents including, Older Persons, technocrats in the Older Persons inclusion arena and academia in regard to Older Persons statistics as raised in the NPHC Report 2024. There are substantial anomalies on Older Persons data in the current NPHC Report 2024 (pages 261-272). The Older Persons statistical analysis needs to be revised as a matter of urgency, if the figures cannot be corrected as was the case with the errors in other sections such as statistics on tribes,” Namara added.

The complaint comes a week after the Representative for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Alex Ndeezi, criticized the latest census data released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), which shows a sharp decline in the population of people living with disabilities in Uganda. According to the 2014 census, there were 6.4 million PWDs in Uganda, but the recent data claims this figure has dropped to 3 million.

Ndeezi expressed his concerns during a plenary session lastweek, questioning how such a drastic decrease could occur. “The question is, where did the 3.4 million people go?” he asked, highlighting the significant discrepancy in the numbers.

Earlier this year, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) undertook the National Population and Housing Census 2024, and the provisional report was released on the 3rd of October 2024. The provisional report had errors and is supposed to be corrected. The final report will come in December.

“I appreciate that there has been immense improvement in the collection of demographic statistics generally and the final report has been produced in a record 4 months,” said the Namara at the press briefing at the Piato Restaurant in Nakasero, Kampala

He said they are concerned about the understatement of figures representing older persons in the recent provisional census results published by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

Figures for SAGE do not add up

Under the findings section of the Census, out of the 298,000 Older Persons benefiting from SAGE payroll, only 28% were counted (about 80,000), leaving 220,000 Older Persons above 80 years not counted.

In addition to the above exclusion, there was a house-to-house registration done among Older Persons above 80 years without IDs, and these added up to 43,000 Older Persons. This means we have 307.000 plus 43,000 totaling to 350,000 older persons above 80 years, but only about 80,000 were counted.

“The erroneous prevalence is being presented at a time when we don’t have any factor to back up the trend, instead we have several factors to suggest that Older Persons prevalence is increasing. Increase in life expectancy at birth from 63.3 years in 2014 to 68.2 years in 2024., increase in life expectancy comes with increment in ageing.

Charles  Isabirye, the Chairman of the National Council for Older Persons also spoke during the presser where he emphasized that the statistics on Older Persons should be stayed until they are reviewed by a team of multi-disciplinary experts to produce clear Older Persons statistics. From this Older Persons monograph should be produced as soon as possible – possibly in the next 2 months in the spirit of leaving no one behind.

The HANU team also advised that going forward, provision be made for a mandatory platform (team) of Older Persons experts to analyse and review UBOS studies on Older Persons inclusion and reporting, before every study/survey is done by UBOS, to mitigate this high-level exclusion possibly due to lack of knowledge on Older Persons issues by UBOS.

HANU was established to advocate for the rights and well-being of older people in Uganda by championing age-friendly policies and programs, safeguarding the rights of older individuals, and elevating the care standards of elderly people across the country.

The organisation is an independent network that comprises of 8 organizations, namely, Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU), Reach One Touch One Ministries Uganda (ROTOM), Health Nest Uganda (HENU), Uganda Reach the Ages Association (URAA), Grandmothers Consortium (GMC), Palliative Care Association Uganda (PCAU), Community Based Rehabilitation Alliance Ltd (COMBRA), and Voice of the Elderly.