The census rollout in Mbale City hit a snag as digital system failures disrupted data collection efforts across various wards.
Enumerators, grappling with connectivity challenges and system malfunctions, were forced to resort to manual entries to salvage the process.
In Namakwekwe and Nabuyonga wards, as well as others, enumerators found themselves unable to kick off the census due to technical glitches. Despite their training and preparedness, the lack of allocation of enumeration areas and system breakdowns left them stranded at division offices, awaiting resolution.
“We called the IT people but it seems they are also defeated we are waiting for a response from our superiors” said another enumerator who preferred anonymity.
Enumerators voiced concerns over the inability to access designated geographical locations on their iPads, essential for accurate data collection. Despite reaching out to IT support, the challenges persisted, leaving supervisors and enumerators alike grappling with uncertainty.
Similar access issues plagued the Nabweya ward, where enumerators had to resort to manual data entry bypassing established digital protocols.
Some reported discrepancies, with trained enumerators missing from the system, complicating an already challenging situation.
Moreover, the absence of essential support tools such as reflector jackets, chalk, gumboots, and internet bundles, coupled with delayed training allowances, exacerbated frustrations among census workers. “I have no lunch my training allowance would have bailed me out but they have not paid us” said Sadat Wasige an enumerator attached to Nabuyonga ward.
The disruptions underscore broader logistical hurdles facing the census exercise in Mbale City, raising doubts about the reliability of collected data. Urgent intervention is necessary to rectify the operational inefficiencies and ensure the timely completion of the census.
As stakeholders scramble to address digital failures and salvage the census process, swift action is paramount to safeguarding the integrity of data collection and providing accurate population statistics for informed decision-making.