Uganda Bureau of Statistics Executive Director and Chief Statistician, Chris N. Mukiza, has praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for creating an environment that supports quality data production and statistical independence in Uganda. According to Dr. Mukiza, the President’s leadership has helped strengthen the country’s statistical systems and allowed the Bureau to operate smoothly with adequate government support and funding.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Central Statistics Office of Eswatini Kingdom, Dr. Mukiza explained that Uganda has made major progress in building a strong statistical infrastructure over the years. He noted that the government’s continued investment in statistics has improved data collection, strengthened human resource capacity, and supported timely production of national statistics that guide development planning.
Dr. Mukiza highlighted the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census 2024 as one of Uganda’s biggest achievements in statistical management. He revealed that the census was funded up to 98 percent by the Government of Uganda, while development partners contributed only 2 percent. According to him, this showed the government’s strong commitment to ensuring an independent and successful census process.
The UBOS Executive Director made the remarks while hosting a five-member delegation from Eswatini, which spent a week in Uganda on a benchmarking exercise ahead of the Kingdom’s National Population and Housing Census planned for 2027. The team visited UBOS to learn from Uganda’s experience in organizing and conducting a modern national census.
During the discussions, Dr. Mukiza advised the visiting officials to establish clear census structures that can support smooth coordination during the entire enumeration process. He stressed the importance of creating systems that ensure every citizen is counted so that no one is left behind during data collection.
Using Uganda’s census model as an example, Dr. Mukiza explained that the country established a National Census Council chaired by the Prime Minister to oversee the exercise at the highest level. He said strong coordination and leadership were key factors behind the success of Census 2024.
He further encouraged the Eswatini delegation to invest in technology, proper planning, and capacity building to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their census exercise. According to him, reliable statistics are important because governments use them to plan for education, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, and other essential services.
Apart from discussing statistics, Dr. Mukiza also used the opportunity to promote Uganda’s tourism sector. He told the visitors that Uganda is blessed with many natural attractions, including mountain gorillas, waterfalls, national parks, volcanic mountains, and beautiful landscapes that make the country unique and attractive to tourists.
The delegation from Eswatini was led by Dlamini Marilyn Phumlile, who thanked UBOS management for warmly hosting the team and sharing valuable knowledge throughout the five-day exercise. She described the visit as highly educational and beneficial for Eswatini’s preparations for Census 2027.
Ms. Phumlile praised UBOS for the extensive preparations it made before conducting Uganda’s Census 2024. She particularly admired the establishment of a situation room that monitored census activities and data collection coverage throughout the enumeration period on a 24-hour basis.
She also commended several technological innovations introduced by UBOS, including the census dashboard, electronic recruitment system, e-payment system, and the Bureau’s wide publicity strategy. According to her, these innovations greatly contributed to the success and efficiency of Uganda’s census exercise.
The Eswatini delegation further requested continued technical support and cooperation from UBOS as they continue preparing for their own national census in 2027. They expressed confidence that the knowledge gained from Uganda would help improve their planning and execution processes.
UBOS, on the other hand, expressed optimism that the visiting delegation had acquired important skills and practical experience necessary for conducting a successful census exercise in Eswatini. The Bureau emphasized that regional cooperation among African statistical agencies is important in improving data quality and supporting development across the continent.
The meeting also reflected Uganda’s growing reputation as a leader in statistical management and census implementation within the region. By successfully conducting a largely government-funded census, Uganda demonstrated its capacity to manage large national exercises with limited external dependence.
As countries continue relying on accurate data for national planning and decision-making, Uganda’s experience is increasingly becoming a model for other African nations seeking to modernize their statistical systems and strengthen evidence-based governance.
