The statistics bureau says the five-year strategy duplicates existing frameworks and undermines its statutory mandate to coordinate, monitor and supervise Uganda’s National Statistical System.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has declared a five-year National Data Strategy launched by the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance illegal, arguing that it duplicates responsibilities assigned to the bureau by law.
The strategy was launched on October 20 in Kampala by State Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo.
It seeks to improve how government collects, manages and uses data, particularly for national planning, public service delivery and the adoption of emerging technologies.
The government reportedly plans to spend about Shs1.6 trillion implementing the strategy over five years.
However, the launch has drawn criticism from UBOS executive director and chief statistician Chris Mukiza, who says the ministry has no legal authority to take the lead on matters relating to national statistics.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mukiza said the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act, 1998, Cap 333, gives UBOS responsibility for coordinating, monitoring and supervising the National Statistical System.
“The launch of that ‘National Data Strategy’ is an existential threat to the UBOS Act and is, therefore, illegal, irregular, redundant and adds no value to the National Statistical System,” Mukiza said.
He argued that the functions covered by the new strategy are already provided for under existing frameworks, including the Plan for National Statistics, the UBOS Strategic Plan and the Data Quality Assessment Framework.
UBOS is mandated to provide statistical information, set standards for data collection and publication, and review and approve instruments used to collect information at national and local government levels.
Mukiza said introducing another framework without addressing these existing provisions risked creating unnecessary duplication and undermining the legal framework governing official statistics.
He urged the public to treat the strategy with caution, insisting that UBOS remains the institution mandated to coordinate the country’s statistical system.
Mukiza said the bureau remained committed to providing reliable statistics to support national planning, policy formulation and decision-making.