Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has called on religious and cultural institutions to embrace data as a key tool for national development and better decision-making.
The appeal was made on Thursday during the official handover of tablets and computers to members of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), cultural institutions and select government agencies at Statistics House in Kampala.
UBOS donated a total of 4,050 tablets and six computers, part of the gadgets used during the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, to support data collection, management and evidence-based planning.
Speaking at the ceremony, UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris Mukiza said institutions such as faith groups and cultural kingdoms are central to Uganda’s National Statistical System because of the role they play both as users and producers of information.
“Because you are key users of the statistics we produce, you are key producers of a lot of statistics… Our role here is coordinating the national school system, ensuring that it is vibrant and produces statistics of high quality,” Mukiza said.
He explained that the partnership marks an important step under the Fourth Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD IV), aimed at strengthening collaboration across institutions.
Mukiza noted that the devices are being provided through donations for non-government bodies, while government agencies are receiving them through institutional transfers.
“For those who are not in the government system, we are using a disposal method by donation. And those who are within government, it is transferred from one institution to the other,” he said.
The Inter-Religious Council received the largest share, taking 3,050 tablets and three computers, while other beneficiaries received smaller allocations.
Bugisu Kingdom was given 250 tablets along with three computers, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom received an additional 150 tablets, and NPA was allocated 50 tablets. The Presidential CEO Forum and the Economic Policy Research Centre each received 50 tablets.
Mukiza urged recipients to ensure the gadgets are used strictly for statistical and administrative purposes, warning against misuse.
“We empower you to deploy and use them principally for statistical purposes… especially organising your administrative data,” he said.
He added that UBOS is committed to ensuring the tablets remain useful long after the census, noting that similar distributions have already been made to public universities and local governments.
Representing IRCU, Dr Joseph Serwadda welcomed the support, saying the religious sector plays a frontline role in addressing national challenges ranging from health and education to climate issues.
“We formed the Interreligious Council Statistics Unit and Committee to collect data on all our member organisations,” Serwadda said.
He also suggested that having such tools earlier could have helped reduce complaints that followed the release of census results.
“If this equipment had been in our possession, we possibly wouldn’t have had those issues,” he said.
UBOS said it will continue engaging the institutions through training and support to ensure the donated equipment strengthens data systems and promotes development planning across communities.
