DATA BOOST! Uganda, Denmark Ink Deal to Enhance National Statistics Production

By Evans Najuna

KAMPALA — Uganda has sealed a cooperation deal with Denmark aimed at strengthening the country’s statistical systems, improving the production of official data and boosting evidence-based planning and policy making.

The agreement, signed by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Statistics Denmark and the Embassy of Denmark in Uganda, is expected to enhance Uganda’s capacity to generate reliable statistics for government planning, economic analysis, business decisions and the country’s green transition.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the second day of the Uganda-European Union Business Forum held at Kampala Serena Hotel.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Trade, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, according to the Danish Embassy in Uganda.

Under the deal, Uganda and Denmark will work together to modernise the country’s National Statistical System, improve coordination among institutions producing official statistics and strengthen the dissemination of data to users locally and internationally.

The partnership is also expected to boost the availability of critical statistics needed to support Uganda’s economic transformation, climate action and sustainable development agenda.

A key component of the agreement is the production and management of data to support Uganda’s green transition, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics relevant to climate-related policies and economic planning.

The cooperation will involve knowledge-sharing, technical assistance, staff exchanges and joint activities bringing together government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, private sector institutions and civil society organisations.

The agreement also provides for technical cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to improve access to official statistics for macroeconomic modelling, economic analysis and policy formulation.

The initiative is expected to support Uganda’s participation and co-chair role in the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, an international platform that promotes the integration of climate considerations into economic and fiscal policies.

Under the implementation arrangements, UBOS will take institutional ownership of the programme and designate a focal point or project manager to coordinate activities.

Statistics Denmark will provide technical expertise for agreed activities, while the Embassy of Denmark will support coordination, communication and engagement with relevant Ugandan institutions.

The parties will jointly identify specific projects and activities under the framework and periodically assess progress, with cooperation priorities expected to be reviewed over medium-term periods of three to five years.

The MoU is aligned with Denmark’s Strategic Framework for Uganda 2023–2028, Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan for the financial years 2025/26 to 2029/30 and the Fourth Plan for National Statistical Development.

It also references Uganda’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution and the National Climate Change Act, 2021.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is financing the cooperation through the Strategic Sector Cooperation Programme with Statistics Denmark.

Although the agreement establishes a framework for collaboration, specific financial arrangements will remain subject to the respective laws, regulations and policies of the participating parties.

The partnership marks another step in Uganda-Denmark relations, with official statistics taking centre stage in efforts to improve public planning, strengthen economic management and ensure that government decisions are guided by reliable data.