By Our Reporter
In a stratagic move to strengthen the use of official statistics in local planning and decision-making, Teso and Lango cultural institutions have joined hands with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), in a partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Kampala, on Thursday, February 5th, 2026, to make data more accessible and useful to communities across the two regions.
UBOS Deputy Executive Director, Dr Vincent Fredi Senono, said the initiative will help cultural institutions understand how official statistics are produced and how they can use them to guide development.
“Many cultural institutions use statistics, but they often do not know how these figures are collected. This MoU will give them a clear understanding of producing and using official statistics,” Dr Senono said.
Leaders from the Iteso Cultural Union (ITU) and the Lango Cultural Institution welcomed the partnership, with ITU Deputy Prime Minister, John Stephen Okiror, saying the collaboration comes after concerns over the recent national census results, which prompted the union to conduct its own population assessment.
Prof Willy Okullo, Prime Minister of Won Nyaci me Lango, said the institution’s strong grassroots networks make it an effective partner for data collection and dissemination. He noted that collecting data will not be a challenge because the institution already works closely with communities and district structures.
Dedicated offices in both regions will be used for data collection, processing, and storage, ensuring timely access to information. The partnership is expected to enhance evidence-based planning, enabling communities to make informed decisions and participate actively in local development.
Dr Senono described the MoU as a milestone for community-driven planning, adding that by working directly with cultural institutions, UBOS is bringing statistics closer to the people, making them a tool for real change at the local level.