UBOS Strengthens Partnership with Umukuuka wa Bugisu to Promote Data-Driven Development in Bugisu Region

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has entered into a landmark collaboration agreement with the Umukuuka wa Bugisu, marking a new era in data-driven decision-making and cultural documentation in the Bugisu sub-region.

Under the agreement, UBOS will provide the Umukuuka’s office with office furniture, three desktop computers, and an undisclosed number of computer tablets. The support will facilitate the joint collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data, while also strengthening institutional capacity for evidence-based planning and cultural preservation.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mbale City, UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Ndatira Mukiza said the partnership is part of a broader UBOS initiative to build capacity among cultural and faith-based institutions across Uganda. He noted that UBOS has already provided similar support to other cultural institutions earlier this year, using tablet computers deployed during the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2024 — the first-ever fully digital census conducted in Uganda’s history.

“The MoU we have signed today is not just about handing over computers and furniture,” Dr. Mukiza emphasized. “It is about strengthening systems of information gathering, ensuring that cultural institutions like the Umukuuka’s office can generate, process, and share credible data that informs development planning and sustains cultural practices.”

He further revealed that UBOS is in the process of establishing a permanent regional office in Mbale City, the cultural capital of Bugisu. The office will replace the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) centre, which has operated for years as a substation, and will serve as a hub for training and technical support.

“Capacity building means training statisticians from the Umukuuka’s office and attaching UBOS experts to work with them,” Dr. Mukiza explained. “This will prevent duplication of effort and ensure that statistics generated at local and cultural levels meet national standards.”

Representing the Umukuuka wa Bugisu, Alfred Geresom Musamali, Minister for Information, Media and Communications, welcomed the collaboration, describing it as a timely intervention to support the cultural institution’s efforts toward evidence-based governance.

“We are setting up a statistics unit under the Umukuuka’s office to help us generate reliable data for policy and decision-making,” Musamali said. “Among the key data we want to collect is the number of males undergoing circumcision in each clan every season.”

Circumcision, known locally as imbalu, is a central cultural ritual of the Bagisu people, conducted biennially among adolescent males between August and December. Musamali noted that accurate data on the number of candidates per season helps the institution plan for the availability of traditional surgeons, some of whom are occasionally sourced from neighboring Kenya where related ethnic communities share similar customs.

Beyond the circumcision statistics, Musamali also revealed that the Umukuuka’s office intends to collect data on the harvesting and consumption of kamalea (bamboo shoots) — a traditional delicacy from Mt. Elgon’s forests. The findings will help the institution assess whether the current harvesting practices are ecologically sustainable and compatible with the community’s cultural and nutritional needs.

Dr. Mukiza underscored that UBOS’ collaboration with cultural institutions goes hand in hand with the promotion of environmentally sustainable practices. By providing computers and digital tools, UBOS aims to reduce the reliance on paper-based reporting and promote greener operations.

“Paper is environmentally unsustainable, so UBOS is encouraging digital data management systems in all our collaborations,” he said.

On the same day, UBOS also signed collaboration MoUs with the Bunyoro Kingdom and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity in the national statistical system.

Dr. Mukiza tasked all cultural and faith-based institutions that have signed MoUs with UBOS to begin developing Strategic Plans for Statistics, which will guide data collection and analysis aligned with Uganda’s National Statistical System (NSS).

He concluded by emphasizing that credible statistics are the backbone of sustainable development.

“For Uganda to achieve its Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV goals, we must ensure that every institution — from government to cultural leadership — participates in generating and using reliable data,” he said.

The partnership between UBOS and the Umukuuka wa Bugisu is expected to not only enhance the statistical capacity of the Bugisu sub-region but also strengthen the link between culture and development through data-driven governance.