Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act

This section provides definitions of terms used in the Act (for example, 'authorised officer', 'bureau', 'census', 'financial year', and 'statistics').

Establishes the Uganda Bureau of Statistics as a body corporate with a common seal; the board decides the device for the seal; the board must designate a member to authenticate the seal if the chairperson is absent; the person acting as executive director must authenticate if the executive director is absent; the bureau may sue and be sued; the executive director or persons authorised by the board may enter into certain contracts without seal.

The bureau shall be the principal agency for collecting and disseminating statistics and is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and supervising the national statistical system and performing the listed functions.

Sets up the bureau's governing board, lists its membership, requires the Minister to appoint certain members, sets three-year terms (max two consecutive) for appointed persons other than the executive director, and specifies grounds and events for cessation of membership.

The validity of any proceedings of the board is not affected by vacancies among its members or by defects in appointments.

The board must perform a set of specified functions for the bureau (policy formulation and monitoring; approving budget and plans; senior appointments; staffing structure and terms; staff management; procurement and asset disposal; financial management; informing the Minister at three-month intervals; and other Minister-approved functions). The board may delegate its functions (subject to conditions) except its power to delegate.

The board may, in writing and after consulting the relevant appointing authority, temporarily designate additional persons as authorised officers to collect specific statistical information under this Act on terms the board and appointing authority determine.

Members of the board and employees or other persons acting on behalf of the bureau are not personally liable for acts done in good faith and without negligence to carry the Act into effect.

A person employed to carry out any provision of this Act must, before starting those duties, take and subscribe the oath of office and secrecy before a magistrate, commissioner for oaths or the executive director.

An executive director is appointed by the Minister on the board's recommendation; the executive director is the bureau's chief executive, manages funds/property/business and staff under the board's supervision, sits on the board, and a person is not appointed unless they have statistical knowledge and managerial ability.

The secretary to the board must perform functions the board directs; the board appoints the secretary on terms it determines; the secretary is responsible for arranging board business, taking minutes, keeping records, and is responsible to the executive director when performing duties.

Section Other staff Section The board shall engage such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of the objects and functions of the bureau . The officers and employees appointed under this

The Minister may, on the board's recommendation, direct by statutory order that a census be taken on matters in the Fourth Schedule; every order under that subsection may specify the date(s) and the information to be collected.

The bureau must collect statistics for Uganda on matters listed in the Fourth Schedule; the executive director may, with the approval of the board, appoint technical committees to advise on the performance of functions under this Act.

Agencies other than the bureau must present national-level census and survey initiatives to the board for consideration and approval; the Minister may make rules on procedures for such proposals on the board's recommendation.

Officers (including the executive director and authorised officers) may require persons to supply prescribed particulars for statistical collections; persons required must complete forms and provide necessary information; the executive director must not specify a period under seven working days.

An authorised officer may, with written authorisation of the executive director and at all reasonable times for purposes of collecting statistical information, enter and inspect workplaces and make necessary inquiries, but may not enter a dwelling house except for collection purposes.

The executive director may release unit records on computer media with identifiers removed subject to specified safeguards and undertakings.

The executive director must ensure that collected statistical data is processed, quality-checked, confidentiality-protected (where section 18 applies), and released for general dissemination.

The bureau must consult and cooperate with other lead agencies when promoting an integrated national statistical system or exercising other functions; the bureau may delegate executive director functions on necessary terms; all lead agencies must cooperate with the bureau.

The funds of the bureau include Parliamentary appropriations, Government-approved loans, Minister-approved grants/gifts/donations, and other payable money; the board may determine how to invest surplus funds with the Minister's approval.

The executive director must prepare and submit annual estimates to the board for approval and recommendation to the Minister, no later than three months before year-end; the executive director may prepare and submit supplementary estimates at any time before year-end.

The board must prepare an annual statement for each financial year within three months after year end (subject to Ministerial directions), including a performance report; the bureau must keep proper books; the statement must include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenditure and any other financial information the Minister may require in writing.

The section requires annual audits of the bureau's accounts by the Auditor General (or an auditor appointed by them); the board must submit statements for audit within four months after each financial year and must deliver audited accounts and the auditor's report to the Minister; the Auditor General must audit and provide the audited accounts and report to the board within two months of receiving the statement.

The board must submit to the Minister, within three months after the end of each financial year, a report of the bureau's activities for that financial year.

The Minister must submit to Parliament, within nine months after the financial year ends, the bureau's audited accounts and auditor’s report (under section 24) and the bureau's annual report (under section 25).

A certificate or written statement signed by specified officers is prima facie evidence in criminal proceedings under this Act; oral evidence need not be tendered unless the court so directs, in which case a postponement must be allowed to enable attendance.

Publishing or communicating information known to have been disclosed in contravention of the Act is an offence liable to a fine not exceeding sixty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

Assets and liabilities that were vested in the statistics department immediately before this Act commences vest in the bureau.

A document may be served on the bureau by leaving it at the office of the executive director.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations to give effect to this Act.

The Minister may, on the advice of the board and by statutory instrument, amend any of the Schedules to the Act.