UNFPA Holds Stakeholder Census Engagement in Makeni
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), alongside Statistics Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, convened a key stakeholder engagement on Wednesday, November 12, 2026, regarding the upcoming 2026 Housing and Population Census.
Makeni City Mayor Abubakarr Kamara opened the session by highlighting the fundamental role of census data in enabling effective development planning for both the public and private sectors. He urged community members to demonstrate the same level of civic enthusiasm for the census process as they do for national elections.
Expressing support for the initiative, Chairperson for Tonkolili District Yabom Sesay pledged to raise awareness across her constituency. She also voiced local governance concerns, noting that the size and population of Tonkolili District justify establishing its own council and municipality, similar to Port Loko, and expressed confidence that the census results would substantiate this need.
During the technical presentation, Alusine Rehme Wilson, Northern Regional Publicity Officer for Statistics Sierra Leone, outlined the enumeration timeline. The official census night is scheduled for December 1, 2026, followed by field data collection from December 2 to December 16, 2026. The counting process will cover all residents, including homeless populations staying in public spaces.
To ensure data integrity, enumerators will use digital tablets to transmit collected data directly to a secure central database. Wilson explained that census-taking in Sierra Leone dates back to the Freetown Colony count in 1802, with modern decennial censuses conducted continuously since 1963. Preparations for the 2026 census have included GIS mapping, instrument testing, mock censuses, and public awareness campaigns.
Following the initial enumeration phase, Statistics Sierra Leone will conduct quality assessments and mop-up operations in any missed areas before processing and publicly disseminating the final data.
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