UBOS Unveils New Data Strategy to Support Uganda's Tenfold Economic Growth Ambition – Nilepost

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has launched three strategic documents aimed at strengthening the country’s statistical system, improving access to official data and addressing information gaps in evidence-based government planning as Uganda pursues its tenfold economic growth ambition.

The documents, unveiled during the commemoration of Africa Statistics Week 2026, include the Fourth Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD IV), UBOS Strategic Plan IV and the UBOS Service Delivery Standards.

The launch comes amid government efforts to improve the quality, reliability and accessibility of information used to formulate policies, allocate public resources and monitor development programmes.

State Minister for Finance and Planning Amos Lugoloobi said Uganda had made considerable progress in generating official statistics, but noted that the country still faced challenges in ensuring that available data was effectively used to inform policy decisions.

Reflecting on the country’s early development planning processes, Lugoloobi recalled that government previously struggled to obtain reliable information during the formulation of its first National Development Plan, forcing planners to rely heavily on estimates and data from external sources.

He said Uganda had since strengthened its capacity to generate statistics, although the utilisation of available information in decision-making remained inadequate.

“Statistical data is important to help generate a plan such as this for development to enable government work accordingly,” Lugoloobi said.

The minister warned that inaccurate or deliberately manipulated statistics could distort development priorities and result in public resources being allocated to interventions that do not reflect the actual needs of communities.

He cited instances where inflated population figures could be used to justify projects targeting more beneficiaries than actually exist in a particular area.

“At times people use figures to obtain their own interests deceptively. For example, someone says, ‘we are going to serve 5,000 people,’ yet the area has only a few people. We need to have the right figures for what we are going to do,” he said.

Lugoloobi urged ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen their statistical capacities and integrate reliable data into policy formulation, budgeting and performance monitoring.

He also called on government institutions to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data analytics, to improve the accessibility, analysis and application of official statistics.

UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris Mukiza said the newly launched documents were aligned with the Fourth National Development Plan and intended to strengthen the production of quality official statistics to support national planning, monitoring and evaluation.

“The Board takes great pride in overseeing the production of quality official statistics that support evidence-based planning, monitoring and evaluation of government programmes,” Mukiza said.

He emphasised that statistics should not be viewed merely as a technical requirement for policymakers but as a strategic national asset that supports informed decision-making and drives national transformation.

The three documents are expected to strengthen coordination within the national statistical system, improve institutional performance and ensure that reliable information is available to support Uganda’s development priorities.

UBOS Principal Officer Ivan Kanyeheyo said the Service Delivery Standards would establish clear benchmarks for accountability and responsiveness in the bureau’s engagement with users of statistical information.

He explained that the standards would guide how UBOS serves researchers, government agencies, businesses and members of the public, including procedures for requesting information, seeking clarification and submitting feedback.

The framework also provides for responses within specified timelines and periodic reviews to ensure that service delivery keeps pace with changing information needs and technological developments.

Beyond institutional reforms, UBOS is also strengthening digital access to official statistics through its online platforms.

The bureau’s Head of Digital Solutions, Ivan Atwiine, said members of the public could access statistical information through the data dissemination portal available on the UBOS website.

The expansion of digital access is expected to complement government efforts to improve data sharing across institutions while making official statistics more accessible to policymakers, investors, researchers, businesses and the general public.

The latest reforms underscore the growing importance of reliable statistical information in Uganda’s development agenda, particularly as government seeks to improve public resource allocation, strengthen accountability and accelerate economic transformation.

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