By Mulengera Reporters
The Executive Director and Chief Statistician of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, has commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for creating an enabling environment that has strengthened statistical independence and improved data production in Uganda.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Central Statistics Office of Eswatini Kingdom, Dr. Mukiza said the President’s leadership has ensured adequate government support and funding for statistical operations, enabling the timely production of quality data to support Uganda’s national development agenda.
He highlighted Uganda’s growing statistical capacity, citing the successful conduct of the National Population and Housing Census 2024, which was funded 98 percent by the Government of Uganda, with only 2 percent contributed by development partners.
The remarks were made during a week-long benchmarking visit by officials from Eswatini ahead of the Kingdom’s National Population and Housing Census planned for 2027.
Dr. Mukiza urged the visiting delegation to establish strong census management structures to guarantee an inclusive and comprehensive enumeration exercise. He pointed to Uganda’s National Census Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, as a model for effective census coordination.
He also showcased Uganda’s tourism potential, highlighting attractions such as mountain gorillas, waterfalls, national game parks, and volcanic landscapes that offer visitors a memorable experience.
The five-member Eswatini delegation was led by Dlamini Marilyn Phumlile, who praised UBOS for sharing valuable knowledge and best practices during the benchmarking exercise.
Ms. Phumlile said Uganda’s Census 2024 preparations demonstrated strong innovation and organization, particularly through the establishment of a 24-hour situation room to monitor census data collection in real time. She also commended the census dashboard, e-recruitment and e-payment systems, publicity strategy, and overall census management processes as key lessons for Eswatini.
She further appealed for continued technical support from UBOS as Eswatini prepares for its 2027 census exercise.
UBOS expressed confidence that the delegation had gained critical skills and insights necessary to support the successful implementation of Eswatini’s upcoming national census. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
