UBOS hands over 60,000 tablets to ICT Ministry to enhance government programs and efficiency

Summary:

• The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has transferred 60,247 tablets to the Ministry of ICT for use in various government programs. The tablets will support the Electoral Commission, local governments, and the Parish Development Model (PDM), enhancing data collection and operational efficiency. This move aims to reduce costs and improve coordination across government sectors.

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The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has officially transferred 60,247 tablets, previously used for the 2024 national housing and population census, to the Ministry of ICT. This move aims to repurpose the devices for various government programs.

At the handover event on Monday, UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza stated that the tablets would be distributed to different government agencies for continued use. He explained that 36,000 tablets will be provided to the Electoral Commission to support election management, while 23,897 tablets will be sent to local governments to enhance the Parish Development Model (PDM) information system. Each parish will receive two tablets, and community development officers (CDOs) in sub-counties and town councils will also be equipped with tablets.

Dr. Mukiza further noted that municipal community development officers, district/city IT officers, and local government statisticians will also receive tablets, with districts lacking statisticians being supported by district planners. Additionally, 350 tablets are being transferred to Operation Wealth Creation to aid in its initiatives.

Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, emphasized that this transfer reflects the government’s growing collaboration across different sectors. “This is a clear example of how the government is sharing resources to reduce operational costs and enhance efficiency,” she said. She also pointed out that the tablets will be crucial for preparing for upcoming elections and collecting real-time data for the PDM, addressing previous concerns at the parish level about insufficient devices for data collection and beneficiary registration.