By Emmy Ojara
Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) have noted with concern that land conflicts in the various region across Uganda will affect information gathering and data collection on the service deliveries assessment.
Mr James Muwonge, the director social economic survey at UBOS said they have began facing a number of challenges with the local community who associate them to land grabbers.
He added that politicians and many organizations who conduct surveys in the local communities in Uganda ask similar questions like they do such as how easily the locals can access services such as health, education, legal and agricultural services in their areas.
The director said they have been often rejected by the community who don`t want to attend to them.
He said areas in West Nile like Arua and Adjumani ,Arua and Yumbe have land disputes. He also feared facing challenges in Amuru district especially in Apaa village, Pabbo Sub County due to the land border dispute between government and the local people.
He said the survey team may fail to cover Amurudistrict with the increased border disputes.
“Our team may fail to make assessment in Amuru district where there is a land border conflict and the environment is tense, we will have no option other than to use the district leadership,” He said.
He said UBOS is collaborating with the various ministries and sub county chairpersons who are focal persons in service deliveries within the village levels.
He said they are targeting 10,000 households in the entire country.
Mr Joshua Mubulire, information officer at UBOS added that their survey captures qualities and accessibility, usability and satisfaction of beneficiaries in the services available.
“We want to make assessments from the local people on service deliveries to present our report but the communities are rigid,” He said.
He said the survey is conducted between intervals of 4 months but with financial crisis they failed to conduct it in 2012. The survey that will take four months will be disseminated within 6 months after survey.
