Data War Erupts in Kampala: UBOS Vows Contempt Against ICT Ministry's New National Data Strategy

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), led by Executive Director Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, has fiercely rejected the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance’s (MoICT&NG) newly launched Uganda National Data Strategy, labeling it illegal, redundant, and an existential threat to national statistical laws.

Background of the Clash

 The MoICT&NG—supported by UN Global Pulse and the UNDP—officially rolled out its 5-year, Shs1.6 trillion National Data Strategy in Kampala to unify digital governance, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence readiness.

In a rebuttal, just 24 hours later, UBOS has issued a scathing counter-statement declaring that the framework usurps powers exclusively granted to the bureau under the UBOS Act 1998 (Cap 333).

As a statutory mandate,  UBOS maintains that it is the sole principal agency responsible for coordinating, supervising, and standardizing the National Statistical System.

Core issues:

Whereas Ministry of ICT & National Guidance Position claims mandate to build a whole-of-government digital and data-sharing ecosystem, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) argues that  MoICT&NG has zero legal jurisdiction over official statistics or data collection instruments.

Also as the ICT Ministry highlights massive data fragmentation and the need for new Tier IV data centers and AI readiness, UBOS asserts issues are already covered under the UBOS Act, Strategic Plan, and Data Quality Assessment Framework.