UBOS signs MoU with Bugwe, Adhola to strengthen community data collection

What the report says

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has signed memoranda of understanding with the cultural institutions of Obwen’engo bwa Bugwe and Tieng Adhola to improve how community-level information is collected, organised and used in planning. The agreements were signed at Statistics House and are intended to help both institutions build stronger evidence for decision-making while also supporting Uganda’s wider statistical system.

According to The Observer, the partnership will allow the cultural institutions to work with UBOS on gathering administrative data generated within their communities, including information on births, deaths, migration and other population characteristics. UBOS executive director Dr Chris Mukiza said the agency wants to turn locally produced information into more reliable statistics for development and public planning.

Tieng Adhola leaders said the arrangement will use existing clan and local leadership structures to reach the grassroots and identify communities facing the biggest challenges, including poverty and violence. Obwen’engo bwa Bugwe said better population data would help it understand the needs of its people and make decisions based on verified information rather than estimates.

The development reflects a broader effort by UBOS to narrow the gap between data collected at community level and official statistics used by government for planning and resource allocation. In general, partnerships like this are often aimed at improving the timeliness and relevance of local data, especially where formal records are incomplete.