The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the World Bank, committing to deepen collaboration in poverty measurement, data production, and statistical capacity building.
The commitment was made during a high-level meeting held at Statistics House in Kampala, where UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris N. Mukiza hosted a delegation from the World Bank Group, led by Ms Rinku Murgai, Head of the Equity and Poverty Team.
The meeting focused on strengthening data-driven approaches to poverty analysis using small area estimates — an advanced statistical method that enables localised poverty measurement and evidence-based planning.
In his remarks, Dr Mukiza commended the World Bank for its consistent technical and financial support towards Uganda’s statistical development.
“We appreciate the World Bank for its continued support towards Uganda’s statistical production,” Dr Mukiza said. “UBOS remains fully committed to sustaining this partnership, which has, over the years, strengthened our capacity in data production and poverty measurement.”
He further emphasised the Bureau’s readiness to ensure its staff receive the necessary technical training to enhance skills in poverty analysis.
“UBOS will ensure that our staff have access to all the training needed to build technical capacity in small area estimation and data analysis,” he added. “We stand ready to provide timely and accurate data required for sustainable poverty measurement and policy planning.”
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank delegation, Ms Rinku Murgai underscored the critical importance of using official national statistics to guide effective poverty reduction programs.
“It is essential that poverty characteristics, trends, and drivers are drawn from official government data,” Ms Murgai said. “The World Bank publishes poverty estimates every five years based on both monetary and non-monetary indicators derived from official sources.”
She noted that credible analytical reports are key to shaping targeted interventions and called for the generation of a refugee analytical report using data from Uganda’s National Population and Housing Census.
“We encourage the use of census data to understand refugee dynamics and their impact on poverty levels,” she explained. “To achieve this, we propose forming a joint working group to enhance collaboration through training, information sharing, and evidence-based policy recommendations.”
UBOS Deputy Executive Director, Dr Vincent Fred Senono, praised the World Bank’s openness in knowledge sharing and capacity development.
“We value the World Bank’s willingness to share information and build UBOS’s technical capabilities,” Dr Senono said. “Their support has strengthened our analytical capacity, especially in tracking government programs like the Parish Development Model, which aims to transition households from subsistence to the money economy.”
The meeting concluded with both institutions reaffirming their shared goal of advancing data-driven decision-making in Uganda’s development planning process.
The collaboration between UBOS and the World Bank continues to play a pivotal role in improving Uganda’s statistical systems, ensuring that policymakers, development partners, and communities have access to high-quality data for informed decision-making and sustainable growth.