Remarks at Dissemination of Main Report from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey of 2022

Acknowledgements:

Guest of Honour, the Minister of State for Planning,

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 

Members of the Board of Directors of Uganda Bureau of Statistics,

The Executive Director of Uganda Bureau of Statistics

Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions,

All Government representatives,

Colleagues from the UN system,

All participants,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be part of this official dissemination of the main report and associated products of the 7th Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2022.

Leadership is very critical in delivering on important undertakings like the UDHS. It is, therefore, befitting to acknowledge the Government of Uganda for its continued commitment to building a strong National Statistical System and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) for its technical leadership in ensuring quality and timely production of data and statistics. I also wish to recognize the progress so far made in bringing on board other players in the data ecosystem, such as civil society and private sector, to complement Government efforts.   

Globally, Demographic and Health Surveys are recognized as an important source of data and statistics for national planning processes. I am glad that over the years, Uganda’s capacity to design and manage these surveys has become increasingly stronger. Thanks to all the development partners who have collaborated with the Bureau in this journey, including colleagues from the UN system who continue to provide technical and financial support. 

Honourable Ministers and Distinguished Participants,

The 7th Uganda Demographic and Health Survey report shows many areas in which progress on demographic and health indicators have improved significantly. Among others, we continue to celebrate the improvements in access to maternal health care and the steady declines in maternal and childhood mortality and all the corresponding lives that were saved. 

These and other improvements reflect hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Government, health workers – especially those at the frontline - the citizens and other stakeholders across the country, amidst budget constraints and multiple vulnerabilities that have diverted attention. 

We need to continue to interrogate this progress to understand what lessons we can learn and apply in those areas where we have stagnated or are declining – where and what type of investments are needed? 

For we know that progress has not be consistent across the indicators and there are some areas that call for additional effort if we are to remain true to the commitments of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other regional frameworks. 

I think it is important to highlight that teenage pregnancy rates have remained essentially stagnant for two decades. This too requires reflection – what we are doing is not working at the macro level. I believe that we need to take a closer look at evidence-based approaches to sexuality education – from the continent and globally – if we are to see a meaningful reduction in Ugandan girls becoming mothers at 14, 15, 16 …. and all the corresponding harmful impacts on their lives and the population more broadly. 

It is also important to highlight that the survey continues to reveal significant gender gaps across many dimension – including in education, experience of sexual violence, nutrition, and HIV – and highlights the need to scale up investment in gender transformative approaches. These include addressing harmful gender and cultural norms, creation of demand for health and family planning services, and other efforts to harness Uganda’s Demographic Dividend. 

The report has come at the opportune time for the Government and the UN system. Already, Uganda is preparing to present her Voluntary National Review (VNR) report on its progress on the 2030 Agenda at the High-Level Political Forum in July 2024 - the UDHS will provide key SDG indicator data. I also have no doubt that the findings will enable the country to further reflect on its strategic focus for the Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV). 

For the UN, the UDHS is an important source of information for our Common Country Analyses (CCAs) and identification of strategic priorities and design of the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which is currently being developed and will commence in 2026.  

Distinguished Participants,

I wish to reiterate the continued commitment of the United Nations system to collaborate with Government to further strengthen the capacity of the National Statistical System to produce, analyze and disseminate data and statistics to inform effective decision making and resource allocation. As part of this pledge, we have commenced implementation of a USD 42 million Joint Programme for Data and Statistics that was launched in January this year. 

This is in addition to other catalytic collaborative investments through the successor EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls and the Joint Adolescent and Youth Programme. This joint programming approach is one of our innovative ways towards strengthening partner collaboration and system coherence in the implementation of our Cooperation Framework. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my sincere hope that the findings of the survey will be utilized by all development actors to inform policy and programming to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Thank you!