UBOS MARKS AFRICA STATISTICS DAY WITH CALL FOR GREATER DATA SHARING AND INNOVATION
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has launched a week long series of activities to commemorate Africa Statistics Day, officially marked across the continent every November 18th.
The celebrations shall be held under the theme “Leveraging Innovation in Data and Statistics for a Just and Prosperous Society.”
The Principal Communication Officer, Mr. Okoth Didacus, delivered the official statement on behalf of the Executive Director, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, during a press briefing held on Wednesday at UBOS House in Kampala.
In his address, Mr. Okoth emphasized the importance of data sharing among institutions, noting that although statistics are produced across different centers, much of the data remains isolated and underutilized.
“Statistics are produced across all centers, but unfortunately, they are not shared. Every aspect of our society is measurable as we demonstrated last year but for progress to happen, data must move freely and be accessible to those who need it,” Mr. Okoth said.
He underscored the critical role of data dissemination, particularly in areas of governance, peace, and security, describing reliable data as the backbone of effective policy-making, monitoring, and evaluation.
“Reliable data is essential for making comparisons and evaluations. Official data is what guides decision makers it provides benchmarks, informs planning, and supports evidence-based advice,” he added.
The week long celebration will feature several key activities, including the release of the National Governance, Peace, and Security Survey Report, a blood donation drive in collaboration with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, and a Geo Information Systems (GIS) Day that will display data on Uganda’s maps.
The annual Gender Forum will also be held to discuss gender related statistics and their impact on national development.
UBOS has also prioritized media engagement and will stream all major activities live on television and social media platforms to promote transparency and public participation. Physical attendance at selected events will be by invitation.
Mr. Okoth reaffirmed UBOS’s commitment to leveraging innovation and technology in data production and dissemination to empower communities and foster a just, inclusive, and prosperous society.
