Government is set to carryout national manpower survey in fulfillment of East African Community (EAC) region’s demand.
Uganda first conducted its national manpower survey in 1988, less than two years after the National Resistance Movement (NRM) led government came into power.
In 2008, the EAC initiated a regional process of conducting a manpower survey in the region whose expected output is critical in informing policy development in relation to skills needs and gaps at national and regional levels.
The initial manpower survey budget for the five East African nations was estimated to cost more than 33 million US dollars.
Uganda was expected to undertake a pilot Survey by 31st January 2013; and undertaking the main survey by end of July 2013.
However due to financial constraint, it took another two years as the national exercise will be conducted starting this week. The exercise is expected to take 20 days.
Caroline Namaganda, the Public Information Officer at Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS) told journalists in Gulu town on Thursday that unlike other countries under the East African Community, Uganda is yet to carry out the survey on its manpower.
Namaganda says survey will greatly assist in generating data on the current stock and characteristics of skilled manpower, vacancies, and provide information that would assist in matching demand and supply in the national and regional economy in order to determine both current and future shortages and surpluses.
Namaganda noted that once the data is collected and analysed, it will go a long way in facilitating the establishment of an accessible human resource database for development policy planning at national and at EAC level.
The Survey Team Leader for Acholi sub region, Alphonse Otim says they will also collect information on the skills of Ugandans who are living abroad.
The government will also generate statistics on the number of the unemployed, both skilled and unskilled labour force, job seekers and demand for human in the future.
Santa Odwar, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) for Aswa in Gulu says with the right figures, the government will able to plan for its citizens better.
