Ugandans watch over Migingo tally

By Standard Team

Residents of Migingo Island were counted amid tight security by Uganda police.

Two enumerators, accompanied by two elders, moved door to door on the one-acre island under the watchful eye of Ugandan security officers.

Speaking from the disputed island, chairman of the local Beach Management Unit Juma Ombori said the exercise began well.

He, however, cited the absence of most fishermen from their residences as a major challenge.

"Many fishermen were on the lake at night," he said adding this forced enumerators to carry on with the exercise Tuesday and Wednesday.

The four, together with a supervisor, arrived on the island on Monday morning and are expected to leave when counting ends on August 31.

Meanwhile, in Migori, heavy rains and lack of adequate census materials affected the exercise. A survey by The Standard showed most residents were yet to encounter the enumerators after the first night. Of 23 residents interviewed, only six had been counted.

"We waited until midnight before giving up," said Mr William Mandela, a resident.

And contrary to the directive that clubs be shut from 6pm to 10pm, clubs in Migori had a field day, operating throughout the night.

Official word

Bar owners claimed they were yet to get official communication from the Government on the directive to close early.

Elsewhere, US President’s step-grandmother Sarah Obama was among the first to be counted in Siaya District.

Mama Sarah was counted at her Kogelo home.

She praised the exercise and urged fellow villagers to take part in the census.

Supervisor Fransisca Aluoch and enumerator Dora Odhiambo counted Mama Sarah, 89, at 6pm on Monday night. She was asked questions such as the number of livestock she owns and whether she uses firewood or any other type of cooking fuel.

Elsewhere, census failed to take off at Osieko beach on Lake Victoria after enumerators from Bondo and Budalang’i districts clashed over who would conduct the exercise.

Bondo DC Mohamud Salim and local statistical officer John Asudi had to rush to the area yesterday morning to sort out the dispute.

In Rarieda District, counting at Magare Island was completed early in the morning as two enumerators and a supervisor spent the whole night on the tiny island.

By Nick Oluoch, George Olwenya and Nicholas Anyur