Makerere postpones semester exams over census
Uganda is set to have its sixth census starting on May 10 until May 20.
Makerere University has pushed back its second semester after a force majeure demanded calendar adjustments to accommodate the forthcoming national population and housing census.
Uganda is set to have its sixth census starting on May 10 until May 20.
In an April 4 circular to all college principals, Academic Registrar Buyinza Mukadasi said in compliance with a government directive, the University Senate had approved the decision to adjust the semester and examination calendar.
“The Semester II examinations, therefore, will start on Tuesday, May 21 and end on June 11, 2024,” Prof Mukadasi said.
Following the development, all academic units at Makerere have been requested to adjust their teaching and examinations timetables accordingly.
Unlike institutions on semester system, those that used terms such as in primary and secondary education levels will not be affected as the census exercise them in first term holiday.
Schools break off for first term holidays on May 3 and reopen for the second term at the end of the month.
In November last year, the Ministry of Education and Sports issued a directive that all institutions to release their students so that they can participate in the forthcoming national census.
In the directive, all vice chancellors had been asked to let all learners participate in the census.
“According to the approved roadmap, the census night will be from May 9 to 10, and field enumeration will take place from May 10 to 20. During this exercise all learners at all levels of education will be expected to be at home on the census night and the enumeration period,” the directive stated.
Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) holds a national census every after ten (10) years.
Uganda last held a national census in 2014, and according to findings, the country's population stood at 36 million. The current population of Uganda is estimated to be 48.9 million.
Last week, President Yoweri Museveni, while officially declaring the commencement of the 6th census, said the exercise would help in obtaining accurate information which is crucial for the country’s journey to attaining its development goals.
"As we strive to achieve Uganda's Vision 2040, it is imperative that our plans are based on precise data regarding our people and resources," Museveni said.
