Baseline Study on Urban Data Governance in Uganda’s New Cities (May 2022 – August 2023)

Objective:

The objective of this project was to conduct a baseline study to assess the state of urban data governance in Uganda’s new cities. The study aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities in data management and utilization within these urban areas, providing a foundation for future interventions.

Overview:

This research project was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), with funding from the Hewlett Foundation, USA. The study focused on 10 of Uganda’s newly established cities, exploring how they collect, manage, and use data to inform urban planning and governance.

Key Activities:

• Data Collection: Gathering data from city administrations and other stakeholders to understand current practices in data governance.
• Gap Analysis: Identifying key challenges in data management, including infrastructure deficiencies, capacity gaps, and policy constraints.
• Reporting: Compiling the findings into a comprehensive report that outlines the state of urban data governance and offers recommendations for improvement.

Impact:

The baseline study provided critical insights into the data governance landscape of Uganda’s new cities, laying the groundwork for subsequent projects like Data Cities. The findings have already informed the design of interventions aimed at strengthening data systems, ultimately contributing to better urban governance and service delivery.