Uganda Commemorates Africa Statistics Week 2024: Focus on Modernizing Education Statistics

*By John Kusolo*

Uganda has officially launched the celebration of Africa Statistics Week 2024 under the theme “Supporting Education by Modernizing Production of Fit-for-Purpose Statistics.” The week-long commemoration aims to highlight the critical role of modernized data collection, analysis, and reporting in enhancing education sector planning, decision-making, and accountability.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), under the leadership of its Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Albert Byamugisha, is spearheading the celebrations. During the high-level engagement, Dr. Byamugisha extended gratitude to Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, the Minister of State for Finance and Planning, for his continued support and guidance, particularly in securing funds for UBOS operations. He also commended the Ugandan government for its consistent financial support.

“Thanks to the timely release of data by the UBOS Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, we remain on course to release the final Census 2024 results in December as per the Census roadmap,” Dr. Byamugisha stated.

Dr. Mukiza reaffirmed UBOS’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the education sector to enhance data provision and utilization. He lauded Uganda’s leadership in statistical excellence, noting that the success of UBOS has made it a benchmark agency for other African nations.

UBOS is actively collaborating with education stakeholders during the commemoration of African Statistics Day, which is celebrated annually on November 18th. Uganda has expanded the observance to a full week to emphasize the importance of statistics in driving progress.

A panel discussion brought together experts from diverse fields to deliberate on the current state of education statistics, modernization needs, and strategic partnerships. The panel featured notable figures including:

Mr. Jim Mugunga – Executive Director, PPP Unit, Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development,

Rev. Prof. Dr. Samuel Lubonga – Education Standards Commissioner

Mr. Vincent Ssozi – Assistant Commissioner, Monitoring and Evaluation, MoES

Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo – Executive Director, Uwezo Uganda

Mr. George Kawase – Senior Statistician, UBOS

Discussions centered on:

The status and challenges of education statistics.

Opportunities in data modernization.

Developing fit-for-purpose statistical systems.

According to George Kawase, Senior Statistician in charge of Health and Education Statistics, UBOS collects education information from diverse sources, including censuses, surveys, administrative data (Annual Education Census), learning assessments, and innovative methods such as school mapping. Key education statistics include:

School Age Population Composition by Age Group.

Proportion of Children Attending Early Childhood Education (3–5 years):

Males: 39.5%, Females: 40.9%.

Primary School Learners by Sex:

Males: 4.5 million, Females: 4.4 million.

Average Household Expenditure on Education:

Primary (Government Schools): UGX 440,000, Secondary: UGX 1,396,000.

Barriers to School Attendance: Funding remains the leading cause of school dropout for individuals aged 6–24 years.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios and Classroom Adequacy.

Vincent Ssozi, Assistant Commissioner for Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Education and Sports, highlighted the importance of a fully functional Education Management Information System (EMIS) in supporting policy development, planning, budgeting, and evidence-based management in the education sector.

Ssozi outlined efforts to digitize data production through a revamped EMIS system, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. The revamped system features:

Web-Based User Portals for stakeholders.

Automation of Key Processes, including EMIS number applications and school licensing.

Modular Configuration for learner management, identification, and analytics.

Integration with NIRA and UNEB through an API module.

Data Analytics and Verification Tools for better decision-making.

The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to modernizing Uganda’s education statistics to address gaps and improve resource allocation, policy frameworks, and accountability. This aligns with the country’s broader goal of ensuring education systems are backed by timely and accurate statistics for sustainable development.

As Uganda leads the way in celebrating Africa Statistics Week, the collaboration between UBOS, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders reinforces the importance of data in transforming the education sector. This initiative promises to yield actionable insights that will shape the future of education planning and delivery in Uganda.