UBOS Kick Start Week Long Activities Ahead of World Statistics Day with Focus on Data Digitization and Development Planning
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has kicked off a series of activities to commemorate World Statistics Day, celebrated globally every 18th November, with a high level public lecture on the digitization of administrative data.
The event, held Thursday at the UBOS headquarters in Kampala, brought together policymakers, statisticians, ICT experts, and representatives from development institutions to discuss how technology can strengthen Uganda’s national statistical systems.
Delivering the keynote address, UBOS Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, emphasized that digitization is a critical step toward transforming how data is collected, processed, and shared across government agencies.
He said the lecture aimed to explore how digitization enhances data accuracy, efficiency, accessibility, and information preservation, while supporting data-driven decision-making across all sectors.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to ensure that administrative data contributes effectively to national planning, policy formulation, and monitoring development outcomes,” Dr. Mukiza stated, urging participants to actively engage and share practical solutions for modernizing data systems
Representing Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority (NPA), Mr. Rogers Matte, who served as the chief guest, delivered an insightful presentation on the value of statistics in national development.
He described statistics as “a multifaceted tool for evidence-based decision making”, explaining that numbers transform arguments into credible, objective insights that help policymakers and institutions move from subjective debate to informed, data-backed action.
“Statistics provide justification and credibility to proposals and help track progress toward long term national aspirations such as full employment, price stability, economic growth, equitable income distribution, education development, social security, and political stability,” Matte said.
He further highlighted the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement, noting that the statistical ecosystem involves diverse actors including government institutions, private sector players, civil society organizations, NGOs, and development partners.
“Reliable and repeatable statistical processes are essential for transparency and for enabling open, evidence-based dialogue across different perspectives,” he added.
On strategic planning and tracking, Matte underscored that statistics provide a mechanism for mapping strategic plans, tracking the implementation of national initiatives, and protecting developmental gains through accurate measurement.
The presentation also referenced the 2025 Africa Statistics Day theme “Leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society for Africans” a reminder of the transformative power of data in shaping Africa’s future.
The public lecture marked the beginning of UBOS’s week long activities leading up to World Statistics Day, all aimed at deepening public understanding of the role of data in sustainable development and strengthening Uganda’s position as a leader in statistical innovation in the region.
