KAMPALA
The Executive Director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Dr Chris Mukiza, has urged Ugandans to embrace productivity alongside prayer, saying religious devotion alone cannot transform livelihoods.
Mukiza made the remarks on Thursday during the handover of 4,050 tablets and computers to cultural and religious institutions, as well as select government agencies at UBOS headquarters in Kampala. The gadgets were previously used during the 2024 National Housing and Population Census and are expected to support data collection, management and economic development.
“Uganda is a richly endowed country, but we must reflect on why many citizens remain poor,” Mukiza said. “We need to encourage our people that instead of spending all their time praying, they should also engage in productive work. God helps those who help themselves.”
While prayer are significant to society development, Mukiza maintains that they must be complemented by hard work and innovation to improve household incomes and national prosperity.
“We have many churches and people pray every day, but prayer alone will not make people wealthy. Religious leaders should guide believers to become productive so they can improve their welfare,” he added.
Among the beneficiaries, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda received a lion’s share of 3,050 tablets and three computers. Mukiza said the devices will help religious institutions collect administrative data to support planning and decision-making.
Dr Joseph Sserwada, the vice chairperson of IRCU said, Uganda has more than 26,730 Born Again churches across the country, stating that the gadgets will ease their research works.
According to him, improved data collection help authorities and religious leaders understand socio-economic trends and guide development programmes.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the handover ceremony, Dr Rogers Matte, the Director for Research, Development and Performance at the National Planning Authority (NPA), said the donation comes at a critical time as Uganda implements the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
“Planning must be evidence-based. Data collection, analysis and utilisation enable government to set better targets and monitor progress effectively,” Matte said. “These tools will strengthen data management across institutions and reinforce the National Statistical System.”
The Deputy Prime Minister of Bugisu Kingdom, Dr Clet Wandui Masiga, said the kingdom will immediately deploy the tablets across its 250 sub-counties to strengthen data management systems.
Masiga said Bugisu, whose population stands at about 2.6 million according to the latest census, is implementing development projects aimed at improving livelihoods.
“These gadgets will help us collect, analyse and use data in real time as we implement community transformation programmes,” he said.
He also called for continued technical support from UBOS to ensure effective utilisation of the devices and maximise their impact on data-driven planning.
The distribution of the gadgets forms part of UBOS’ efforts to strengthen administrative data systems and support institutions in evidence-based planning and service delivery.
