KAMPALA — The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the private sector in the production and use of reliable official statistics to support investment decisions, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.
The commitment was made during a visit by UBOS officials to Roofings Limited’s manufacturing facility at the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve, where both institutions explored opportunities for greater cooperation in the use of data to drive business and national development.
The UBOS delegation was led by Deputy Executive Director Dr Vincent F. Ssenono, who represented the Executive Director and Chief Statistician of Uganda, Dr Chris N. Mukiza. The team was received by Roofings Limited Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Dr Martin F. Kyeyune, who presented the company’s history, operations, investment journey and contribution to Uganda’s economy.
The engagement focused on strengthening collaboration in the production and application of official statistics to support industrial planning, export development, investment decisions and business expansion.
Discussions highlighted the role of accurate and timely data in improving productivity, enhancing competitiveness and supporting Uganda’s industrial transformation agenda.
During the meeting, Roofings Limited showcased its growth journey from an initial investment of US$2 million in 1994 to a company currently valued at more than US$500 million.
The steel manufacturer highlighted its continued investments in value addition, expansion of production capacity and export-oriented manufacturing, positioning itself as one of the leading steel producers in East and Central Africa.
The company expressed interest in deepening its partnership with UBOS in areas including trade statistics, industrial production data, export market intelligence and sector performance indicators.
Roofings noted that access to credible and timely official statistics would support strategic planning, production forecasting, market expansion and identification of new export opportunities while reducing reliance on unverified sources of information.
UBOS reaffirmed its commitment to providing high-quality, reliable and timely statistics to meet the information needs of government, businesses, development partners and the public.
The Bureau emphasised that partnerships with industry players are critical to strengthening Uganda’s National Statistical System and promoting demand-driven statistics for evidence-based decision-making.
Roofings Group Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Arif said the engagement provided an opportunity to strengthen institutional relations and reaffirmed the shared commitment to using data-driven approaches as a catalyst for industrial growth, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable economic development.
The collaboration comes at a time when Uganda continues to promote industrialisation, value addition and private-sector-led growth as key drivers of economic transformation.