UBOS Commended for Contributing Towards Statistical Harmonisation at EAC Level

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has received praise for its significant role in advancing statistical harmonization within the East African Community (EAC). During a meeting between the EAC and UBOS in Kampala, the EAC Deputy Secretary General, Annette M. Ssemuwemba, commended UBOS for its contribution to harmonizing statistics in the region. "I commend UBOS for the excellent job and contribution towards the harmonisation of statistics at the EAC level. Looking forward to a continued collaboration", she noted!

While acknowledging UBOS's positive efforts, Ssemuwemba expressed concern over recent inaccurate trade statistics published by the East African Business Council. "It is critical that we have harmonised data generally accepted by all standards, she stressed." She noted that UBOS was one of the critical stakeholders and observed that, "one of the focus areas at the EAC Secretariat is to ensure that there is a well-aligned point of statistical coordination and dissemination."

UBOS's Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, highlighted the need for data communication to go beyond mere dissemination, emphasizing accurate data interpretation and visualization to enhance statistical awareness. He sighted a situation where data is available but does not communicate any significance. He observed a need to invest heavily in data digitization and visualization to encourage and promote uptake and use of quality statistics. Dr. Mukiza further called for an establishment of unified Household Based Surveys, singling out the National Household Survey that UBOS conducts tri-annually, noting that such surveys are still lacking among some of the partner States thereby providing a shortfall in data harmonisation within the EAC block.

Dr Mukiza further highlighted some cross- cutting issues in statistical production such as gender and environment. He, however, informed the meeting that UBOS had made tremendous strides in ensuring that such data is readily available. He called for an urgent need for the East African Statistics Act as such a tool would further strengthen statistical production and development within the East African Community. He went further to call for the fast-tracking of the process of ensuring that the East African Statistical (EAS) Bureau is operational as soon as possible.

He informed the audience that UBOS had already offered to host the EAS Bureau. Additionally, he urged members to appreciate the need for a mid-term review of the East African Community Statistical Programmes funded by the World Bank. He noted that such initiatives would facilitate establishing the challenges and crafting possible solutions. He called upon member States to explore available opportunities to communicate statistics both within and beyond the borders. Dr. Mukiza emphasized the critical need to ensure data is made more available, visible, and accessible to all users.