The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), an independent institution responsible for conducting, producing, and disseminating national statistics, has urged all cultural institutions across the country to produce statistics that meet international standards, SpyReports has learned.
The strong call was made by the UBOS Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Vincent Fred Ssenono, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Iteso and Lango cultural institutions at UBOS headquarters in Kampala.
Dr. Ssenono said producing statistics is not merely about counting figures, but involves following proper procedures to ensure quality and reliable data. “The statistics you are going to produce must meet international standards and must be acceptable for use,” he said.
He further urged cultural institutions to ensure that the statistics they produce reflect performance and the distribution of resources within their areas. “PLE results are out—your statistics must show how many students passed in the Lango sub-region, how many students have dropped out of school, and even how many people have benefited from the Parish Development Model, among others,” he explained.
Dr. Ssenono added that statistics should help institutions identify policy gaps and advocate for development. “Statistics should show the level of poverty in the Iteso or Lango sub-regions, youth unemployment, and how to address such challenges,” he said.
He also noted that the collaboration UBOS is entering into with the institutions will help harmonize statistical concepts and methodologies, ensure data consistency and accuracy through reconciliation, coordinate data collection to reduce duplication, promote data sharing and collaboration among stakeholders, and strengthen statistical capacity and quality across different institutional structures.
Prof. William Okulu, who represented the Iteso Cultural Institution, assured UBOS of their full commitment to meeting the MoU terms. “We have access to the grassroots, and collecting data will not be a problem,” he said, adding that the institution also has a good working relationship with district statisticians who will support them in data collection.
