As Uganda seeks to host the East African Statistics Bureau, Finance minister Henry Musasizi has promised that government will do everything possible to bring the regional agency to the country. Musasizi made the pledge on August 6 as he flagged off construction of the new Statistics House Entebbe office block in Entebbe to be used by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos). The announcement marks an institutional push, which seeks to position Uganda at the heart of regional data governance and policy coordination. The East African Statistics Bureau, once established, is expected to harmonize statistical methodologies across member states, facilitate cross-border data sharing, and provide technical support for national statistical offices throughout the East African Community (EAC). Therefore, securing its headquarters would not only elevate Uganda’s profile but also attract regional experts, training programs, and international partnerships focused on evidence-based development. The ceremony drew senior government officials, Ubos management, and representatives from the construction industry. The new facility will feature modern lecture theaters, conference halls capable of hosting regional summits, and high-security data vaults to protect sensitive national and regional information. The minister emphasized that the project aligns with Uganda’s broader ambitions under the National Development Plan to leverage data for industrialization and social transformation. “I have taken note of the request for Uganda to host the East African Statistics Bureau. We shall explore all available options to ensure this regional agency comes to Uganda,” Musasizi declared. His remarks signaled a clear shift from passive interest to active pursuit. The minister said government would embark on engaging EAC partner states to build consensus. Musasizi advised contractor Roko Construction Company Ltd, to honour its contractual obligations. “Uganda has suffered enough from delayed government projects. This is the ‘Kisanja No More Sleep’ era. Everyone must do their job on time. Government has released the money, and we expect quality work delivered without excuses,” he warned. ROKO’s project manager, who was present at the ceremony, assured the minister that the company had mobilized equipment and skilled personnel and was committed to delivering the facility within the agreed three-year timeframe. UBOS operated from the Entebbe premises until 2006 before relocating its headquarters to Statistics House in Kampala. UGANDA TO MAP BUILDING SAFETY RISKS IN NATIONWIDE SURVEY Uganda is set to conduct a nationwide survey of buildings to establish the state of the country’s building stock and assess their compliance with safety and construction regulations. The survey, which is being undertaken jointly by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the National Building Review Board (NBRB), is expected to provide the first-ever comprehensive baseline on the number, type, and condition of buildings across the country. This comes at a time when building collapses and flooding during the rainy season continue to raise concerns about the safety and resilience of structures in Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni has also recently warned about the country’s vulnerability to earthquakes, saying government agencies have been lax in implementing measures that could save thousands of lives in the event of a major seismic disaster. Morris Oleng, the head of research at the NBRB, said the survey will help authorities assess how vulnerable buildings are to disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and fires, as well as determine whether developers are complying with existing building regulations. “This survey is critical to the mandate of the National Building Review Board, which is largely to regulate building operations for a safe and sustainable built environment.” He said. The survey follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UBOS and NBRB that happened last week at Statistics House, with UBOS providing technical guidance on the methodology and sampling of the exercise. Among the structures to be identified will be reinforced concrete, unreinforced masonry, confined masonry, timber, and structural steel buildings. The exercise will also establish the proportion of buildings according to the number of storeys, including single-story and multi-story structures, as well as whether buildings are completed, under construction, or occupied. Authorities will also examine whether buildings have complied with government requirements, including obtaining the necessary approvals and making provisions for persons with disabilities. “We’re aware of the situation in many of our urban centers. “We have so many storied buildings. So we want to know the proportion of buildings that are single-storied, the ones that are twostoried, and so on and so forth,” he said. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Chris Mukiza, the Ubos executive director, said the partnership demonstrates the importance of collaboration within Uganda’s National Statistical System and will help ensure that decisions affecting the building sector are based on credible and evidence-based information. devonssuubi@gmail.comThe post Govt seeks to have new Statistics House block harmonize regional operations appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.