Uganda national data and statistical system developments

Uganda has initiated significant developments regarding its national data management and statistical infrastructure. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, in partnership with the UNDP and UN Global Pulse, launched a five-year National Data Strategy. This framework, involving a projected investment of over 1.6 trillion shillings, seeks to improve data collection and protection across sectors like health, education, and agriculture.

The strategy has met opposition from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza characterized the plan as “illegal, irregular, redundant” and “an existential threat” to the bureau’s mandate, arguing that the 1998 UBOS Act grants the agency sole authority over the national statistical system.

In a separate development aimed at strengthening statistical systems, Uganda and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement between UBOS, Statistics Denmark, and the Embassy of Denmark focuses on modernizing Uganda’s National Statistical System through technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and improved data coordination to support policymaking and the green transition.