Uganda 2002 Census Highlights

The 2002 Ugandan Census has been released, showing trends in population, gender, tribal, and religious distributions. The Census also provides a snapshot of what daily life is like for most Ugandans.

From New Vision 24 March 2005

Uganda's population has grown to about 26.8 million, according to the 2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census report released yesterday.

By the time of the census in September 2002, Uganda had 24.4 million people, says the report compiled by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Considering an annual growth rate of 3.3%, the population has increased by 2.4 million. It is expected to double in another 21 years.

The central Uganda population is projected to be 7.1 million this year. It is followed by Western and Eastern with 6.8 million each and northern region with 6.1 million.

Overall, there are 95 males per 100 females. Women outnumber men in most districts. The reverse is true in Kalangala where there are 150 men to every 100 women. Yumbe district is the fastest growing with a population increase of 7.9% per annum, while Mpigi has the lowest population growth rate estimated at 1.3%.

The biggest tribe is the Baganda, who make up 17.3% of the population, followed by Banyankole with 9.8%, Basoga 8.6% and Bakiga 7.0%. The smallest tribe is the Vonoma with only 128 people by the time of the census, 60 males and 48 females. Other tribes with less than 10,000 people were Mvuba with 870, Mening 2,227, Bahehe 3,403 and Batwa 6,738. The biggest eight tribes make up 70% of the population, while the remaining over 40 tribes constitute 30%.

Catholics remain the biggest religious denomination with 41.9% of the population, followed by the Church of Uganda (Anglican) with 35.9, Islam 12.1 percent and Pentecostals 4.6 percent.

Census highlights

• 97% of households use firewood
• 92% do not have electricity
• 48% of households have a radio
• 49% rely on word of mouth as main source of information
• 17% have no access to toilet facilities
• 56% are children below 18 years
• 12% live in urban areas
• Gender ratio is 95 males to 100 females
• Average household size is 4.7 persons
• One in every 25 persons has a disability
• Literacy rate 68%
• 61% have access to safe drinking water
• 77% engage in agriculture
• 1.8 million orphans have lost at least one parent
• 75% use kerosene candles (tadooba) as main source of light
• 4.5% have a TV set
• 77.4% still live on rammed earth floors though a majority have iron roofs