Teso communities urged to embrace UBOS data collection exercise

Jul 06, 2022

The program, which was launched early this year, aims at getting 39% of the 43 million Ugandans still surviving hand to mouth into the money economy.

Okodei speaks to leaders during the PDM sensitisation meeting in Amuria district on Sunday. Over 146 data collectors were trained. (Photo by Jeff Lule)

Jeff Andrew Lule
Journalist @New Vision

Since the roll-out of the baseline data collection exercise by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), there have been mixed reactions among Ugandans in different areas of the country.

Some people in the Teso sub-region were skeptical about the exercise, thinking that the Government might be targeting their land, while others thought it was a political move.

However, leaders who hail from this area, including ministers, asked people to disregard any negative talk about both the exercise and the Parish Development Model (PDM).

The leaders who were sensitizing their people about the PDM in Amuria and Katakwi districts on Sunday said the data collection exercise is aimed at getting accurate facts about its people for better planning during the implementation of the PDM.

Leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations, urged the people to support and embrace the ongoing exercise by UBOS and the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance to ease the implementation of the PDM.

PDM program 

The program, which was launched early this year, aims at getting 39% of the 43 million Ugandans still surviving hand to mouth into the money economy.

The Government is to use parishes as the smallest unit to identify the needs of the people. The state minister of works, Francis Musa Ecweru, said the exercise is for the good of people’s development.

“You should embrace the UBOS exercise. We need to have this data to easily know those who are most vulnerable to be supported. This will also help government ministries departments and agencies know the other needs in terms of infrastructure, health, and education among others, to plan better for improved services in different areas,” he said.

The Katakwi district chairperson, Godfrey Omolo, said some people still have a negative mindset regarding the data collection exercise and PDM.

“I think we still need to emphasize the pillar of mindset change among our people about PDM. This role must be taken on by all leaders. One old woman told me that she would not participate in PDM and data collection because she thinks these people want to take their land, while others think it is a loan scheme aimed at taking their property at the end of the day,” he said.

Leaders asked to preach PDM 

GOSPEL The state minister for fisheries and Serere Woman MP, Hellen Adoa, said all leaders need to play their role.

The Soroti Woman MP, Ann Adeke, said, “We urged people to embrace data collection and also the PDM. We just need to continue engaging our people as leaders to ensure we break down all these things for them to understand PDM.”

Data helps in planning 

UBOS board member Charles Oleny said the data collection exercise has no other agenda, but to generate data to help the Government plan well.

“The biggest challenge we have been facing previously was budgeting and planning without accurate data. That is why this PDM had to be implemented based on the gathered statistics to inform the Government in its budgeting and planning processes,” he said. Ojok, who is also the deputy executive director of the National Planning Authority, said statistics are very important in planning for the people, and people needed to embrace the exercise. You cannot plan for what you don’t know,” he added.

“PDM is to deliver all services at the parish level using the data we are collecting. Previously, we have been doing planning at a high level, but this time the Government decided to use a holistic approach with all actors on board to avoid operating in silos,” he added.

What others say 

Francis Okodei, the Amuria district commercial officer who doubles as the PDM district focal person, said they have sensitized leaders at various levels to engage their people.

Charles Ejim, the Amuria district statistician and planner, said they have trained 146 data collectors, including parish chiefs, commercial development officers, and local council leaders.

As a district planner, he said data is critical to inform the budgeting and planning process of the district.

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