Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the private sector by promoting the production and use of quality official statistics to support evidence-based planning, investment and industrial growth.
The commitment was made during a visit by a UBOS delegation to Roofings Limited’s manufacturing facility at the Kampala Industrial and Business Park in Namanve.
The delegation, led by UBOS Deputy Executive Director Dr Vincent Ssenono on behalf of Executive Director and Chief Statistician Dr Chris Mukiza, was received by Roofings Limited Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Dr Martin F. Kyeyune.
During the engagement, Dr Kyeyune briefed the delegation on the company’s history, operations, investment journey and contribution to Uganda’s economic development.
The meeting provided a platform for both institutions to explore areas of cooperation, particularly in the production and utilization of official statistics to support industrial planning, export development, investment decisions and business growth.
“Discussions also highlighted the role of reliable data in improving productivity, strengthening competitiveness and accelerating Uganda’s industrial transformation.” UBOS said.
Roofings Limited outlined its growth from an initial investment of $2 million in 1994 to a company now valued at more than $500 million. The company also highlighted its continued investments in value addition, expanded manufacturing capacity and export-oriented production, which have positioned it among the leading steel manufacturers in East and Central Africa.
The company expressed interest in strengthening its partnership with UBOS, particularly in accessing trade statistics, industrial production data, export market intelligence and sector performance indicators.
According to Roofings, closer collaboration with Uganda’s national statistics agency would provide credible, reliable and timely data to guide strategic planning, production, investment decisions, market expansion and the identification of new export opportunities while reducing dependence on unverified information.
UBOS reaffirmed its commitment to producing high-quality, reliable and timely official statistics that respond to the information needs of government, the private sector, development partners and the public.
The Bureau also stressed the need to strengthen partnerships with industry players to enhance the National Statistical System and promote wider production and use of demand-driven official statistics for evidence-based decision-making.
Roofings Group Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Arif said the engagement had further strengthened institutional relations and reaffirmed the shared commitment to promoting data-driven decision-making as a driver of industrial growth, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable economic development.
