Africa-Press – Uganda. The government has launched the Area-Based Commodity Development (ABCD) portal, a digital tool aimed at strengthening evidence-based planning, budgeting, and service delivery across Uganda’s decentralised system.
Local Government Minister Raphael Magezi said the platform will enable local governments, the private sector, and communities to jointly plan, track results, and target investments in key commodities, building on the Parish Development Model (PDM) by integrating parish-level georeferenced data into national planning.
“The ABCD portal gives our local economic development strategy a modern, evidence-based platform that all stakeholders can rely on to plan together, sequence interventions, and track results,” Magezi said.
The portal is expected to provide microdata to guide interventions in agriculture, infrastructure, and markets, identifying gaps in standards, transport, and processing.
It will support value chains in beef, fisheries, coffee, horticulture, dairy, oil seeds, and potatoes by directing investment into feedlots, cold chains, abattoirs, landing sites, and storage facilities.
Magezi outlined five anticipated outcomes within three years: growth in commodity exports, increased private sector participation, measurable economic growth in targeted regions, wider use of government data, and integration of information systems into a unified framework.
He stressed that its success will depend on transparency, ethical data use, and close coordination among ministries, local governments, and communities.
“The aim is not simply to have data for its own sake, but to use it to de-risk private capital, improve services, and ensure that no Ugandan is left behind in wealth creation,” he said.
Moses Kaggwa, Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, said the system integrates platforms such as the Parish Development Management Information System and the Community Information System, giving planners, investors, and traders a holistic view of sub-regional economies.
He explained that the portal tracks prices and production trends, applies Geographic Information Systems to locate suppliers and storage points, and compares farming practices across agro-ecological zones.
It also provides early warnings on weather shifts, pest outbreaks, and market fluctuations, enabling extension workers, cooperatives, and farmers to adapt quickly.
For investors, the portal identifies areas lacking processing facilities, evaluates production capacity, and applies standardised datasets to streamline investment decisions.
Policymakers are expected to use it to avoid duplication of projects, while researchers will gain access to updated datasets for analysis.
Kaggwa added that the portal was designed to be sustainable and cost-effective through a partnership with Makerere University’s Innovation and Incubation Centre, which will operate and enhance the platform while government retains full ownership of the data.
“The portal is expected to deliver cheaper, faster, and greater uptake of statistics for all stakeholders, improving economic management and planning,” he said.
Diana Nannono, Head of the Private Sector Development Unit, said the launch marks a milestone in Uganda’s journey toward regional and economic transformation.
She noted that the platform will enhance data-driven decision-making, strengthen commodity value chain management, and foster inclusive growth and competitiveness.
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