The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) on Thursday held a public lecture and workshop in commemoration of Africa Statistics Day 2025, with strong calls for increased investment, innovation, and collaboration across the National Statistical System to support Uganda’s development agenda.
Closing the workshop at Statistics House, Dr Rogers Matte, UBOS Board Member, applauded participants for their active engagement and reaffirmed the importance of statistics in strengthening national governance.
“Today’s discussions reaffirmed the critical role of statistics in national development and governance,” he said. “Presentations from partner institutions demonstrated how innovation in data can enhance quality, improve coordination, and support evidence-based decision-making across government systems.”
Dr Matte emphasised that digital transformation goes far beyond technology. “Digitalisation is more than technology; it is a strategic investment that strengthens efficiency, transparency, and decision-making processes across all levels of government,” he noted.
He reiterated the Board’s commitment to supporting UBOS’ vision of becoming the main source of quality statistics for national transformation. Delivering remarks on behalf of the National Planning Authority (NPA) Chairperson, Dr Matte spoke on the topic “The Value of Statistics in Development: Advancing Data Innovation for Justice, Peace, Security, and Good Governance.”
He said the 2025 Africa Statistics Day theme — “Leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society for Africans” — underscores the role of data in shaping national progress.
“Statistics are the language of development. They transform aspirations into measurable outcomes, enabling planning with foresight, governance with accountability, and progress monitoring with accuracy,” he emphasised.
Dr Matte urged the government to invest in a stronger, more integrated National Statistical System, saying “statistics are the backbone of Uganda’s transformation agenda.”
Prisons Service Showcases Data-Driven Transformation
Presenting on “Harnessing Administrative Data for a Safer, Smarter, and More Rehabilitative Prisons,” Mr Ssempungu Apollo, Senior Superintendent of Prisons and Head of the Statistics Management Division, outlined how the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) relies on administrative data for efficient management.
He explained that UPS uses 47 Prison Books and 135 Forms across 19 regions, 269 prison units, 157 health units, one training school, and the National Prisons Referral Hospital, ensuring comprehensive and consistent data capture.
Mr Ssempungu highlighted the UPS Data Transmission System, which connects units from the Commissioner General’s Planning Department down to district and regional offices.
He emphasised that data quality is safeguarded through multiple layers, including the UPS Statistics Committee, validation visits, verification by lead managers, and automated systems.
“These processes strengthen data integrity and reliability, ensuring that our decisions are guided by accurate and timely information,” he said.
Judiciary Celebrates 28 Years of Digital Evolution
Speaking on “Leveraging Administrative Data and Innovation to Enhance Access to Justice,” Mr Bbosa Isaac Sserunkuma, Head of the Judiciary Statistics Unit, highlighted major strides in the sector’s data systems.
He noted that over the last 28 years, the Judiciary has moved from fragmented, stand-alone systems to an almost fully integrated digital ecosystem that supports evidence-based justice delivery.
This digital revolution, he said, has improved transparency, enhanced operational efficiency, and made justice delivery more effective and accountable across all court levels.
UBOS Reiterates the Need for Skills, Standards, and Collaboration
UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris N. Mukiza emphasised the need for universities to strengthen training in statistical communication.
“Universities collaborating with the Bureau should include a module on communicating statistics to strengthen data appreciation and utilisation among stakeholders by ensuring that official statistics is simplified and user-friendly,” he said.
He further stressed that UBOS has set clear rules for all surveys and censuses, requiring government and NGO data intended for public use to undergo methodological and production-process approval by the National Statistics Office.
Dr Mukiza also highlighted ongoing efforts to charter statistical courses through the National Council for Higher Education and ongoing training of university students to build strong human resource capacity.
Under the Fourth Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD IV), every Ministry, Department, and Agency is expected to establish a functional Statistical Unit.
UBOS is also partnering with cultural institutions — including Buganda, Busoga, Bugisu, Rwenzururu, and Bunyoro — to strengthen their internal statistical systems. Buganda Kingdom has already produced its Second Statistical Abstract, “Manya essazalyo.”
