The Africa Statistics Week launched with a call to utilize quality statistics that reflect current needs

On Friday 18th November 2024, The Africa Statistics Week, which will run from 18th -22nd November 2024 has been launched to kick start a series of activities during the week-long celebration in Uganda.

The launch that happened at the Uganda Bureau Of Statistics UBOS) offices started with a Media breakfast and engagement with Government Communicators.

Activities lined up for next week according to The Senior Public Relations Officer at UBOS Didacus Okoth, included; a High-Level engagement on Monday, Staff Skills Development on Tuesday, Geo-Information System (GIS) Day on Wednesday, the Annual Gender Statistics Forum on Thursday, national Statistics Conference on Friday together with the Students Symposium at Nkozi University and a Health camp with blood donations.

UBOS Spokesperson Okoth Didacus sitted in middle

Mr Didacus said that the statistics week was decided to be celebrated to recognize the role statistics plays in the country's growth in Uganda and that while other African countries celebrate it only on 18th November, Uganda celebrates it the whole week to engage different stakeholders. 

“Every year on 18th November marks the Africa Statistics Day. It was decided that there should be an annual event to recognize the art of statistics and its contribution to the development of our country. Most countries celebrate it only on 18th November, but to continue leveraging the application of data in daily operations, UBOS brings various stakeholders for a week” he said.

He added that annually UBOS continues to engage the media fraternity to share, learn, and make Uganda a better country using evidence-based decision-making and for the media t provide extra dissemination.

The Chief Coordinator of The Government Communication Officers Forum, Mr Oyambi John urged Journalists to always objectively report government programs as a contribution to the country's growth and image through quality statistics.

The Commissioner of Prisons and Deputy Director CCA, Uganda Prison Service, Frank Baine highlighted the Core principles of communication in the public sector including Transparency, Clarity, Empathy, Consistency, and Adaptability, which he said can manage crisis communication.

Africa Statistics Day throughout Africa in 2024 will be celebrated on November 18th. The theme calls for modernizing data systems on the continent to produce and use high-quality statistics for education.

According to experts, some ways to improve data infrastructure and capacity-building in Africa include; Partnerships where governments, international organizations, and the private sector can collaborate to provide financial resources, expertise, and technology, Improved coordination for African countries to share best practices, harmonize data collection methods, and develop standardized indicators, Promoting good governance while creating an environment where data-driven policies and decision-making can be effective among others.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Ministers responsible for economic planning and development established the ASD in May 1990 with the objectives to Increasing awareness of official statistics, Creating a dialogue space between producers and users of official statistics, Engaging the public and private sector in the production, dissemination, and use of statistics, and enhancing the capacity of academicians, local government, and media to access and use official statistics among others.

Journalists and MDA PROs at the launch