Strong Data Ecosystems: How UBOS is setting a new direction for Uganda’s data future

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), ahead of Africa Statistics Day 2025 on 18^th November 2025, held a landmark public lecture and workshop at Statistics House in Kampala, underscoring the pivotal role of digitized administrative data in fostering national development and good governance.

The lecture, held on the morning of Thursday, November 13th, focused on “The value of statistics in development” and a workshop on the “digitalisation of administrative data,” aligning with this year’s continental theme.

Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, Executive Director of UBOS, spearheaded the discussions, emphasizing that digitization fundamentally transforms how institutions manage information.

“If effectively implemented, it eases the collection and harmonization of administrative data across the National Statistical System, enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility,” Dr. Mukiza stated. He added that these improvements are critical for better data governance and accountability, fostering a more robust and responsive data value chain for Uganda.

“As we advance into a data-driven era, digitization has become essential in transforming how we collect, manage, and use administrative data for statistical purposes,” Dr. Mukiza remarked.

He urged participants to use the public discourse to generate innovative ideas for efficient data collection and management in Uganda, highlighting such engagements as crucial for strengthening the country’s statistical system and supporting national planning, policy formulation, and monitoring of development outcomes.

UBOS acknowledged the necessity of collaboration, citing successful partner initiatives such as the Electronic Court Case Management System (ECCMS), the Crime Records Management System (CRMS), and the Prisons Management Information System (PIMIS) as practical examples of administrative data innovation.

Dr. Mukiza encouraged active engagement from all attendees to identify actionable solutions for integrating these systems to enhance governance and planning.

Insights from key partner institutions showcased real-world applications of data innovation. Bbosa Isaac Sserunkuma, Head of the Judiciary Statistics Unit, presented on “Leveraging Administrative Data and Innovation to Enhance Access to Justice.” He noted that over 28 years, Uganda’s Judiciary has evolved from fragmented systems into a nearly integrated digital ecosystem, significantly improving transparency and operational efficiency across all court levels and making justice delivery more effective and accountable.

Ssempungu Apollo, Senior Superintendent of Prisons and Head of the Statistics Management Division, addressed “Harnessing Administrative Data for a Safer, Smarter, and More Rehabilitative Prisons: Best Practices and Challenges.” He detailed how the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) relies on administrative data, collected across 19 regions, 269 prison units, and 157 health units, using 47 Prison Books and 135 Forms.

Ssempungu highlighted the UPS Data Transmission System, ensuring seamless data flow from the Commissioner General’s Planning Department down to prison units, with robust quality control measures guided by the UPS Statistics Committee and UBOS.

Closing the workshop, Dr. Rogers Matte, a UBOS Board Member, expressed appreciation for the active engagement, reaffirming the critical role of statistics in national development. “Digitalization is more than technology; it is a strategic investment that strengthens efficiency, transparency, and decision-making processes across all levels of government,” he affirmed, reiterating the Board’s support for UBOS’s vision.

Speaking on behalf of the National Planning Authority (NPA) Chairperson, Dr. Matte delivered a powerful address on “The Value of Statistics in Development: Advancing Data Innovation for Justice, Peace, Security, and Good Governance.” He underscored the Africa Statistics Day 2025 theme, “Leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society for Africans,” stating that “the value of statistics lies in turning numbers into transformation.” Dr. Matte declared, “Statistics are the language of development,” crucial for transparent governance, peace, security, and revealing inequalities. He urged government investment in a strong, integrated National Statistical System as the backbone of Uganda’s transformation agenda.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza announced a significant policy shift: all Local Governments are now required to produce and submit their Annual Statistical Abstracts. This initiative, supported by UBOS providing tablets to Parish Chiefs for real-time data collection, aims to guide central government resource allocation and ensure planning is consistently backed by reliable, real-time data from the grassroots level, thereby bolstering Uganda’s National Statistical System.

The event marked a crucial step in Uganda’s journey towards a data-driven future, emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and the transformative power of statistics for sustainable development.