By Henry Munaaba Dhikusooka
Statistics play a crutial part in the development process right from the household level, local council 1-5 level up to the National level.
Statistics are needed in the monitoring of development processes targeted towards achieving of set goals and objectives as they actually enable development.
The Ugandan government recognizes the importance of Statistics as evidence for informing development processes such as policy formulation, analysis and advocacy as well as planning, decision making, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on development progress.
In Uganda, Statistics is now widely used to track progress towards meeting set targets in the NDP III, Sector Strategic Plans and the Vision 2040 thereby making it a critical part of the development solution to the country.
The statistical planning function is very essential in setting the direction and focus of the National Statistical System ( NSS).
In line with the Paris 21 principles for designing National Strategies for the development of Statistics ( NSDS), the government of Uganda mooted a sectoral mainstreaming approach to design and implement her first and subsequent Plans for National Statistical Development ( PNSD).
The PNSD provides a unified National Statistical System strategic direction for strengthening Statistical capacity that supports production and development of relevant statistics.
Over the years, PNSD has evolved from 1998 with the enactment of the UBOS Act,1998 that established the Uganda Bureau of Statistics with a major function of producing, coordinating and disseminating of official statistics.
The Bureau in delivering its mandate was guided by the UBOS Corporate plan of 2002-2007,then;
PSND 1( 2005/6-2011/12)
PSND 11 ( 2013/14-2019/20)
PNSD 111( 2020/21- 2024/25)
These PNSD plans emphasize the strategic approach to Statistical planning sectoral mainstreaming.
The current theme for the Plan for National Statistical Development which was released in August 2020 is; “Agenda for innovation, modernization and transformation of the National Statistical System.”
Statistical planning in Uganda is consistent with prevailing National, Regional and International statistical frameworks and these include;
The Cape Town Global Action Plan for Sustainable Development data which was adopted at the first United Nations World data forum in 2017;
The Strategy for the harmonisation of Statistics in Africa ( SHaSA) which gives the African Statistical System with a general framework for production of harmonized and quality statistics; and
The East African Community ( EAC)Regional Statistics Development Plan ( RSDP) 11 that aims to support regional integration and development in East Africa with high quality and harmonized community Statistics besides promotion of the compilation and use of high quality and harmonized statistics in the partner states.
The author, Henry Munaaba Dhikusooka is a
Member- Busoga Lukiko/Minister of foreign Affairs, Bugabula Chief dom & an economist.
