Government Launches Shs76 Billion Entebbe Statistics House Project as Roko Promises Timely Delivery

ENTEBBE — The Government of Uganda has officially launched construction of Shs76 billion Entebbe Statistics House in Kakeeka Community seated on 16230 square kilometers, in a major investment intended to strengthen the country's statistical, research and data management infrastructure.

The groundbreaking ceremony on Friday marked the formal start of a project that officials said will significantly improve Uganda's capacity to produce, manage and disseminate official statistics used in national planning, budgeting and economic decision-making.

The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), engineers, consultants, local leaders and members of the Kakeeka community.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chief guest, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi said the project is fully financed by the Government of Uganda and will be implemented by Roko Construction Company.

Musasizi described the Statistics House as a strategic national investment that will strengthen evidence-based policy formulation and improve the management of public data.

He also revealed that President Yoweri Museveni had directed that Roko be supported after the company faced financial difficulties that affected its operations and competitiveness in the construction sector.

"His Excellency recognised the value of a local company with a proven track record and guided that support be extended so that it can continue contributing to Uganda's development agenda," Musasizi said.

He also pledged government support towards Uganda’s bid, saying the establishment of modern statistical infrastructure demonstrates the country’s capacity to host and support regional institutions.

He said the Government would work with relevant stakeholders to present a strong bid, noting that reliable statistics remain essential for regional integration, economic planning and informed decision-making across East Africa.

UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris N. Mukiza said the new Statistics House will play a critical role in strengthening Uganda’s National Statistical System by improving the country’s capacity to generate, manage and utilise reliable data for development.

“This modern Statistics House, Entebbe office, will strengthen Uganda’s National Statistical System and enhance the country’s capacity to support evidence-based planning, policy formulation and national development,” Dr. Mukiza said.

He added that the facility will serve as a permanent data processing centre for censuses and other large-scale statistical surveys, eliminating the need for UBOS to rely on temporary operational spaces during major data collection exercises.

Dr. Mukiza said the investment will provide a modern working environment equipped with advanced facilities to support research, data processing, innovation and capacity building, ultimately improving the quality and timeliness of official statistics produced for government, private sector and development partners.

He further revealed that the new facility will strengthen Uganda’s readiness to take on a bigger role in regional statistical coordination, as the country prepares to bid to host the East African Statistics Bureau.

Dr. Mukiza said hosting the regional institution would position Uganda as a key centre for statistics, research and data management within the East African Community, while promoting stronger collaboration among member states.

The most closely watched remarks of the day came from Roko Chairman Mark Koehler, who publicly committed the company to delivering the project within the agreed timeline while maintaining high construction standards.

Koehler acknowledged that Roko has long been associated with quality and durability, but said the company intends to demonstrate that it can also deliver major public projects on schedule.

"Our commitment is simple, we will build this project safely, we will build it to the highest quality standards and we will build it on time. We understand the responsibility that comes with a project of this importance and we will not compromise on quality," he said.

He thanked the Government, the Ministry of Finance and UBOS for entrusting Roko with what he described as a project of national significance and said the company views the Statistics House as an investment in Uganda's future rather than merely a construction contract.

"Reliable statistics are the foundation of good planning, sound policy and informed decision-making, and we are proud to contribute to an institution that plays such a vital role in national development," Koehler said.

The Roko chairman said excavation works are nearing completion and that the project has already entered the main construction phase following months of planning and engineering preparation by the contractor's technical team.

He added that successful delivery of the project would depend on continued collaboration among UBOS, consultants, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders throughout the construction period.

"Our success will not be measured by today's ceremony, but by the day we hand over the keys to UBOS after delivering a quality project safely and on schedule," he said.

Roko, which has operated in Uganda for 57 years, has constructed several major public and private infrastructure projects and is seeking to reinforce its reputation through the successful completion of the Entebbe Statistics House.

Once completed, the facility is expected to become one of Uganda's flagship centres for statistics, research and innovation, supporting the country's broader agenda of data-driven governance and economic transformation.