Shaping Uganda’s future through data
Uganda is advancing a national effort to manage and use data more effectively, marking a shift toward evidence-based governance and digital development. The National Data Strategy (NDS), developed between 2022 and 2024, aligns with the country’s broader Digital Uganda Vision 2040 and integrates with its National Development Framework.
The strategy recognises data as a critical resource for informed policy, improved public services, and private sector innovation. It outlines systems for responsible data governance, sharing protocols, and security standards—designed to transform fragmented information into a coordinated, accessible ecosystem.
Its development followed an inclusive, multi-phase consultation process involving 187 organisations across government, civil society, private industry, and international partners. These engagements combined national workshops, regional assessments, and one-on-one consultations. Early discussions focused on analysing the current landscape and formulating strategic pillars aligned with Uganda’s development goals.
The process culminated in a Strategy Validation Workshop in 2024, bringing together 189 participants from 131 organisations. The workshop served as a final review of the draft strategy, with discussions centred on governance, implementation, and feasibility. Participants refined the framework to ensure it was actionable, measurable, and suited to the country’s needs.
The completed strategy has been submitted to the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for final review, before being presented to the Forum of Permanent Secretaries. A formal launch is expected soon.
With implementation ahead, the strategy signals a step toward a more data-literate and digitally mature Uganda. Supported by partners such as UN Global Pulse, it is expected to influence how decisions are made and how national development is monitored and guided, laying the foundation for long-term transformation built on trust, clarity, and shared insight.