The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has signed partnership agreements with the Bunyoro-Kitara and Bugisu cultural institutions to establish functional statistics units within the kingdoms, marking a major milestone in strengthening Uganda’s National Statistical System.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr Chris Mukiza, Executive Director of UBOS, said the new partnerships aim to build capacity, promote data-driven decision-making, and strengthen collaboration between UBOS and cultural institutions.
“The agreements are anchored on three main pillars — establishing statistical units, building capacity and digital enablement, and promoting public sensitisation about the importance of statistics,” Dr Mukiza said.
He explained that each kingdom will now have its own statistics unit serving as a focal point for data collection, management, and reporting. UBOS will support these units by training statisticians, attaching technical officers, and developing foundational statistical systems.
“Once these units are set up, we shall provide training and attach UBOS officers to work with them. We have also established regional offices to serve as capacity-building centres,” he said. “For Bugisu, we are opening a regional office this year, and in the next phase, we will establish one in Bunyoro. This will bring our services closer to the people.”
Dr Mukiza noted that the partnerships also focus on digital transformation, with UBOS providing computers and tablets to facilitate paperless data collection. “We are encouraging the use of digital technology to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly data management,” he said, adding that the initiative aligns with national efforts to preserve the environment.
He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that statistics are used for decision-making rather than left idle. “We don’t want to have data that is not used. The uptake and use of statistics for planning is critical — because, as we always say, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” he remarked.
Dr Mukiza praised the leadership of both kingdoms for embracing the collaboration, describing it as “a critical step toward improved governance, transparency, and accountability within our traditional systems.”
Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Applauds Long-Standing Partnership
Owek. Andrew Kirungi Byakutaga Ateenyi, the Prime Minister of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, hailed the agreement as a “dream come true” that will help the Kingdom strengthen governance through reliable data.
“This journey began in October 2020 when we first reached out to UBOS requesting support to establish a Statistics Unit. That was following a directive from His Majesty, the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, to strengthen governance systems,” he said.
Byakutaga explained that the Kingdom’s strategic transformation efforts had been hindered by a lack of reliable data. “We realised that many of our plans could not be effectively executed due to the absence of structured data. This partnership will help us organise and use information for better planning and performance monitoring,” he noted.
He added that the collaboration would enable the Kingdom to contribute meaningfully to national planning, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
“With UBOS’s technical guidance, we will improve our ability to collect, analyse, and disseminate data. This will strengthen our contribution to Uganda’s development agenda,” he said.
Bugisu Cultural Institution to Use Data for Cultural Preservation
Representing the Umukuuka of Bugisu, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, the Minister of Information for the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Alfred Geresom Musamali, said the partnership would help the Kingdom collect and manage data on unique cultural and environmental issues.
“We want to have reliable data on how many of our boys undergo traditional circumcision each year — a central element of our cultural identity. We also need data on how much bamboo is being extracted from Mount Elgon forest and whether it’s being done sustainably,” he said.
He commended UBOS for agreeing to support the Kingdom in developing frameworks and technical capacity for structured data collection. “This collaboration will help us strengthen data systems within our institution, promote evidence-based decision-making, and preserve our heritage in a structured and sustainable way,” he added.
Sustainability and Collaboration
Dr Mukiza concluded by emphasising that UBOS will continue supporting the cultural institutions through training, digital enablement, and public sensitisation to promote a culture of evidence-based governance.
“Our goal is to ensure that all data collected is analysed, shared, and used to improve the welfare of our people. We look forward to working closely with the kingdoms to strengthen Uganda’s National Statistical System,” he said.
