By Felix Oketcho
The Executive Director of Uganda Bureau of Statistics Dr. Chris Mukiza has emphasized the transformative role of digitization in strengthening the country’s statistical system.
“Digitisation transforms how institutions manage information. If effectively implemented, it enhances accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility — all of which are critical for improving data governance and accountability,” said Dr. Mukiza.
“As we advance into a data-driven era, Uganda must ensure that administrative data meaningfully contributes to national planning, policy formulation, and monitoring of development outcomes,” he stated.
He was opening a Public Lecture at Statistics House under the theme, “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive and Prosperous Society for Africans.”
The event, held as part of Africa Statistics Week 2025, centered on the value of statistics in development and the digitization of administrative data — a timely initiative in Uganda’s drive toward evidence-based planning, accountability, and inclusive growth.
The lecture brought together statisticians, policy makers, researchers, and development partners to explore practical ways to modernize data systems, improve information flow, and integrate innovations in statistics for better decision-making.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority (NPA), Dr. Rogers Matte underscored the power of data innovation to drive justice, peace, inclusion, and prosperity.
He highlighted two key aspects central to Uganda’s development vision:Data requirements for the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) — particularly in the areas of governance, peace, and security; and the value of statistics in achieving a just, peaceful, and secure society.
“Statistics is the language of development. It turns aspirations into plans, plans into policies, and policies into measurable outcomes,” Dr. Matte said. “Without accurate data, we cannot meaningfully track progress or plan for the future.”
Dr. Matte noted that all sectors — from government ministries to private enterprises and civil society — depend on credible data to make informed, transparent, and widely accepted decisions.
He emphasized that Uganda’s national development goals including full employment, equitable income distribution, and political stability can only be effectively pursued through a strong and viable statistical system that provides timely, accurate, and comprehensive information.
According to NPA, reliable statistical systems are fundamental in promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in governance.
Dr. Matte however said disaggregated data exposes inequalities and helps monitor fairness in resource distribution and justice outcomes.
“Early warning systems supported by reliable data enable government to anticipate risks, map conflicts, and guide interventions that sustain peace.
Statistical transparency increases citizens’ trust in government actions, making decision-making more credible and equitable,”he stressed.
He added that issues such as youth unemployment (16.5%), poverty (16.9%), and the rising public debt-to-GDP ratio (expected to reach 52.5% by FY2029/30) require continuous data monitoring to inform responsive policies and resource allocation.
“Planning without data is speculation. Planning with data is foresight,” he noted.
The lecture also highlighted that statistics are essential not only for economic management, but also for social policy formulation.
Data on GDP, inflation, employment, education, health, and migration helps policymakers assess performance and identify areas of intervention. Similarly, social indicators such as sanitation, housing, and human rights statistics help measure the quality of life and societal well-being.
“A society afflicted by unemployment, poverty, or malnutrition cannot enjoy peace. Statistics allow us to monitor these realities and design policies that address them,” Dr. Matte explained.
He further emphasized that for Uganda’s NDP IV to succeed, it must be underpinned by a robust National Statistical System (NSS) that produces reliable and integrated data across ministries, departments, and local governments.
Despite progress made including the digitization of the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, and the deployment of statisticians across MDAs several challenges persist.
According to the NPA,Only 40% of planned indicators were effectively monitored under NDP III;Local Government data systems remain largely non-functional;Administrative data is still largely manual and fragmented;Non-traditional data sources, such as big data, are underutilized; and Geo-spatial metadata remains inadequate, limiting the full operationalization of Uganda’s National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).
These gaps hinder effective monitoring of national development targets and limit the use of data in decision-making.
To address these challenges, NDP IV outlines several strategies, including:developing and implementing long-term surveys and censuses (e.g., UDHS, agricultural, and labor surveys);Integrating administrative and geospatial data systems;Leveraging big data and emerging technologies like blockchain;Building the capacity of MDAs and Local Governments to produce gender-disaggregated data; and Strengthening partnerships for technical and financial collaboration.
Dr. Matte called for institutionalizing innovation, fostering trust through data ethics, and embedding data management systems into every stage of policy formulation and implementation.