By Mulengera Reporters
The Executive Director and Chief Statistician of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, has commended His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for creating a conducive environment that promotes quality data production and safeguards statistical independence in Uganda.
Dr. Mukiza said the President’s visionary leadership and stewardship have greatly strengthened the country’s statistical systems, enabling the Bureau to operate independently while ensuring the timely production of credible statistics that support national development.
He noted that government commitment through adequate resource allocation has enhanced the smooth implementation of statistical activities across the country. According to Dr. Mukiza, this support has enabled the Uganda Bureau of Statistics to build a strong statistical infrastructure and significantly strengthen its human resource capacity over the years.
As an example, he highlighted the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census 2024, which was financed up to 98 percent by the Government of Uganda, with only 2 percent contributed by development partners. He described this as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to evidence-based planning and decision-making.
Dr. Mukiza made the remarks while hosting a delegation from the Central Statistics Office of Eswatini Kingdom, which has been undertaking a week-long benchmarking exercise at the Bureau in preparation for the Kingdom’s National Population and Housing Census 2027.
During the engagement, Dr. Mukiza advised the delegates to establish clear Census structures that support a comprehensive enumeration process to ensure that every citizen is counted and no one is left behind. He explained that Uganda’s apex Census organ was the National Census Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, which played a key role in guiding the entire exercise.
He also showcased Uganda’s tourism potential, noting that the country is blessed with unique attractions such as mountain gorillas, waterfalls, game parks, and volcanic mountains with breathtaking scenery that would offer visitors a memorable experience.
The five-member delegation from the Central Statistics Office of Eswatini Kingdom was led by Dlamini Marilyn Phumlile, who expressed gratitude to the Executive Director and Management of UBOS for the valuable knowledge and practical experience shared during the five-day benchmarking exercise.
Ms. Phumlile applauded UBOS for its extensive preparations and successful execution of Census 2024, citing innovations such as the establishment of a 24-hour Census Situation Room to monitor data collection coverage throughout the enumeration period.
She further praised the Census dashboard, e-recruitment system, e-payment platform, extensive publicity strategy, and the Bureau’s overall Census management processes as best practices worth emulating ahead of Eswatini’s Census exercise in 2027.
Ms. Phumlile also requested continued technical support and collaboration from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics to strengthen Eswatini’s readiness for the upcoming Census.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics expressed confidence that the delegation had acquired valuable insights and practical knowledge that would contribute to the successful implementation of the Kingdom of Eswatini’s National Population and Housing Census 2027. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
