By Our Team
The Ministry of ICT wants to change how Uganda manages and shares information. But the Uganda Bureau of Statistics says the new strategy interferes with its legal mandate. We examine what the document proposes, why UBOS is objecting and what is at stake.
The launch of Uganda’s National Data Strategy has sparked a disagreement between two government institutions over the management of the country’s information resources.
On October 21, 2026, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) issued a strongly worded statement challenging the strategy launched by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
UBOS Executive Director and Chief Statistician Dr Chris N. Mukiza described the strategy as illegal, irregular and redundant, arguing that it encroaches on responsibilities already assigned to the bureau under the UBOS Act.
The statement went further, advising the public to treat the strategy with contempt.
But what exactly is the National Data Strategy, and why has it attracted such strong opposition?
What is Uganda’s National Data Strategy?
The National Data Strategy is a five-year government plan covering the period 2026/27 to 2030/31. It seeks to improve how information is collected, stored, protected, shared and used across government institutions and the private sector.
Consider how government operates today.
The Ministry of Health maintains information about hospitals and patients. The Ministry of Education keeps records on schools and learners. The Uganda Revenue Authority manages tax information, while the National Identification and Registration Authority maintains national identification records.
Much of this information is held in separate systems, some of which cannot easily communicate with one another.
The strategy seeks to address this problem by creating common standards and improving the exchange of information between institutions.
For an ordinary Ugandan, this could eventually mean applying for a government service without repeatedly submitting documents already held by another government agency.
It could also help government make better decisions about where to build schools, improve health services or invest in agricultural infrastructure.
Is data the same as statistics?
This distinction is important in understanding the disagreement.
Data refers to information collected about people, activities, services or events. Statistics are figures and findings produced by analysing that information.
For example, individual records showing how many children attend particular schools are data. When those records are analysed to establish Uganda’s national school enrolment rate, the resulting figure is a statistic.
Similarly, hospital patient records are data, while a national report showing the prevalence of a particular disease contains statistics.
UBOS is responsible for coordinating Uganda’s National Statistical System and producing official statistics.
The Ministry of ICT’s strategy covers a wider range of information, including digital records, data storage systems, information sharing, privacy and technological innovation.
What does the strategy propose?
The document identifies three main areas of intervention, supported by two additional priorities.
The first is data governance, which concerns the rules governing how information is collected, accessed, shared and protected.
The second is data infrastructure, which involves improving the technological systems used to store and exchange information.
The third is strategic data utilisation, meaning the use of information to improve government planning, public services and economic development.
The strategy also proposes training people to manage and interpret data, alongside supporting research, innovation and businesses that use information to develop new products and services.
For instance, better coordination of agricultural production figures, rainfall information and market data could help government identify areas requiring irrigation investment.
In healthcare, improved information systems could support planning for medicines, medical personnel and health facilities.
How much will implementation cost?
The strategy estimates that implementing its proposals over five years will require approximately Shs1.66 trillion.
Data infrastructure accounts for the largest allocation at Shs684.9 billion, followed by data governance at Shs553.3 billion.
Research, innovation and entrepreneurship are allocated Shs319 billion, while strategic data utilisation and skills development account for the remaining expenditure.
The financing plan anticipates Shs1.22 trillion from government, Shs55 billion from development partners, Shs54 billion from the private sector and Shs333.6 billion from non-tax revenue generated through data-related services.
These are proposed financing requirements rather than confirmation that the money has already been released.
The document also makes clear that individual ministries, departments and agencies will be expected to budget for activities falling under the strategy.
This raises questions about affordability, the sustainability of the proposed financing and whether existing government resources can support the planned investments.
Why is UBOS opposed to the strategy?
UBOS argues that the Ministry of ICT has ventured into responsibilities already provided for under the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act, 1998.
The law establishes UBOS as the principal institution responsible for coordinating and supervising the National Statistical System.
Its functions include promoting statistical standards, reviewing statistical data collection initiatives and maintaining statistical information.
In its October 21 statement, UBOS maintained that the areas covered by the new strategy are already addressed through the UBOS Act, the Plan for National Statistical Development and other existing statistical frameworks.
The bureau therefore considers the new strategy unnecessary and legally questionable.
Does the strategy exclude UBOS?
It does not.
An examination of the implementation plan shows that UBOS is recognised as an important institution within Uganda’s existing data management arrangements.
The document acknowledges the bureau’s capacity to collect large datasets and its role in statistical development.
It also assigns UBOS several responsibilities.
For example, UBOS is identified as the lead institution for standardising the formats, definitions and coding systems used in primary datasets.
It is also assigned leading responsibilities for improving data quality, ensuring timely processing and dissemination of information, and increasing the sharing of datasets.
Other institutions, including the Ministry of ICT and the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U), are identified as supporting agencies for some of these activities.
The strategy therefore retains UBOS within its implementation framework rather than proposing to replace it.
Where does the possible conflict arise?
One of the strategy’s major proposals is the establishment of a National Data Office within the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
The office would manage implementation under a Chief Data Officer at commissioner level, working with technical committees and data officers across government institutions.
The proposed National Data Steering Committee would be chaired by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, with the Office of the Prime Minister as co-chair and the Ministry of ICT serving as secretariat.
The arrangement raises a legal question about the authority of the proposed office, particularly in areas where UBOS already exercises statutory oversight.
The strategy does not fully explain how those responsibilities would be distinguished in practice.
Does the strategy acknowledge existing weaknesses?
Yes.
The document identifies fragmented information systems, duplication, inadequate data sharing and weaknesses in institutional coordination among the challenges affecting Uganda’s data environment.
It also calls for a comprehensive National Data Policy and related legislation to guide data management.
This suggests that some of the proposed reforms may require further legal and administrative arrangements before they can be fully implemented.
Is UBOS right to call the strategy illegal?
The answer is not as straightforward as the bureau’s public statement suggests.
UBOS has a statutory mandate that cannot be displaced by a policy document.
However, developing a national framework for digital data management does not, by itself, establish a violation of the UBOS Act.
The strategy addresses several areas beyond official statistics and expressly assigns UBOS responsibilities within its implementation plan.
Based on the strategy and the UBOS statement, there are legitimate legal questions requiring clarification, but insufficient grounds to conclude that the entire strategy is illegal.
A definitive determination would require examining the powers of the proposed institutions against the UBOS Act and other applicable legislation.
What does this mean for ordinary Ugandans?
Beyond the disagreement between government institutions, the strategy could change how citizens access public services.
Better-connected information systems could reduce paperwork, improve service delivery and help government make decisions using more reliable information.
For businesses, easier access to public information could support investment decisions and reduce the time spent obtaining certain services.
For government, improved information management could make it easier to identify gaps in healthcare, education, agriculture and other sectors.
However, connecting more databases also creates concerns about privacy and security.
Citizens need assurances that their personal information will be protected and accessed only for lawful purposes.
The success of the strategy will therefore depend on how effectively government implements its proposals and safeguards the information it collects.
What happens next?
The government will need to clarify the respective responsibilities of UBOS, the Ministry of ICT and the proposed National Data Office.
It will also need to determine whether additional legislation is required and how the proposed investments will be financed.
The disagreement has brought attention to a strategy intended to change how Uganda manages information across the public and private sectors.
While UBOS has questioned its legality, the document itself recognises the bureau’s role in maintaining statistical standards and improving data quality.
The immediate task for government is to address the legal concerns while explaining how the proposed reforms will improve public services.
For ordinary Ugandans, the measure of success will be whether the strategy makes government information more reliable, public services easier to access and personal data more secure.
