The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has bid farewell to 125 interns who successfully completed their two-month internship programme at the Bureau.
UBOS conducts its student internship program twice a year, concluding its mid-year cohort coinciding with the end of the June/August intake cycle. The program provides practical statistical and administrative experience at their Kampala headquarters for university students.
The internship programme provided the students with an opportunity to complement the theoretical knowledge acquired at their respective universities with practical experience in a professional work environment.
Addressing the interns, the Executive Director, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, urged them to put the knowledge and skills acquired both at university and during their internship into practice to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s development.
He reminded them that education becomes valuable when it is translated into practical solutions anchored on real-life challenges, urging them to remain curious, adaptable and committed to continuous learning.
“Learn new skills because life is very competitive,” Dr. Mukiza advised, encouraging the young professionals to continuously improve themselves and remain prepared to respond to the changing demands of the world of work.
He further emphasised discipline, hard work, integrity and a positive attitude as important attributes for professional growth and success. He encouraged the interns to carry forward the lessons and experiences gained at UBOS as they pursue further studies and opportunities in the labour market.
The Executive Director commended the interns who came from various universities including Makerere, Makerere University Business School, Kyambo, Nkozi, IUIU, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Ndejje among others, for their good conduct throughout the internship, noting that he had not received any negative reports about their behaviour.
He assured them that UBOS would retain their details in its database for possible future engagement, while encouraging them to become ambassadors of the Bureau in their universities, communities and future workplaces.
The interns’ representative Reagan Opio expressed appreciation to UBOS for giving them an opportunity to gain practical experience and exposure to the workplace environment. He noted that the internship had enabled them to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, while also strengthening their professional skills, confidence and understanding of the importance of official statistics. The young professionals thanked the management and staff of UBOS, as well as their supervisors and mentors, for the guidance, support and knowledge shared with them throughout the two months.
The farewell ceremony hosted on Friday last week marked the end of the interns’ time at UBOS, but also the beginning of their journey into the world of work, with the Bureau encouraging them to share ideas and experiences gained during their internship with other fellow University students to enable them appreciate shared values and key lessons learnt during the internship period.
The Bureau implements internship and graduate trainee program as an opportunity for young professionals to learn and develop required skills and experiences necessary for the labour market.
UBOS) is Uganda’s principal agency for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating statistical data. Established under the UBOS Act of 1998, it is also responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and supervising the National Statistical System
