Ubos clarifies Buganda’s representation on Uganda Map

Kampala, Uganda:- The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has dismissed rumors circulating on social media suggesting that the Buganda Sub-Region has been removed from the official map of Uganda.

During a courtesy visit to Buganda Kingdom’s headquarters in Bulange Mengo, UBOS Deputy Executive Director Vincent Fred Ssenono assured officials that Buganda remains an integral part of Uganda’s national map and reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to accurate data representation.

Ssenono reiterated UBOS’s dedication to working closely with Buganda Kingdom and other cultural institutions, highlighting that all UBOS’s official publications, including the recently released 2024 Uganda Census Final Report published on December 31, 2024, clearly acknowledge the Kingdom’s presence and contribution to the nation.

“We have a recent population census report that includes all regions in Uganda, and Buganda is clearly indicated,” Ssenono stated.

He emphasized that UBOS, as a government institution, has no authority to alter or remove Buganda from the map, as the country’s regional boundaries are established by the Constitution. “As an institution that provides services to facilitate the development of our country, it is our responsibility to adhere to and uphold the laws of the land,” he explained.

Ssenono further noted that UBOS is mandated by an Act of Parliament to produce and disseminate official statistics. He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as a baseline education census, an aquaculture survey, and a labor market indicator survey, which all contribute significantly to the country’s planning and development.

Israel Kazembe, the Information Minister of Buganda Kingdom, confirmed receiving the UBOS map addressing the anomalies and assured that the rumors were baseless and urged against spreading misinformation that could incite unnecessary tension among the people of the central region.

“The team from UBOS has cleared the air regarding the issue of Buganda’s exclusion from the map, calling it false information,” Kazembe stated, asserting that UBOS is the sole authority responsible for releasing official statistical reports in the country.

In a gesture of goodwill and collaboration, UBOS extended support of UGX 5 million towards the Kabaka’s 70th Birthday Run, aimed at supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS in Buganda and Uganda at large. The contribution is part of the Bureau’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The clarification from UBOS follows remarks by Buganda Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Charles Peter Mayiga, who also addressed the rumors during recent public comments. Mayiga dismissed the claims as absurd, asserting that Buganda’s place in Uganda is undeniable.

“How can you remove Buganda from the map of Uganda? Has it gone to Tanzania or been lifted to the Democratic Republic of Congo? It’s like saying Bulange isn’t in Mengo—everyone can clearly see that it is,” Mayiga stated on his social media platform. “I want to assure you that Buganda is on the map of Uganda. No one can remove Buganda because it is the cornerstone on which Uganda was built.”

The controversy began when a purported national map released by UBOS, which replaced Buganda with labels such as Central North and Central South, appeared on social media. Unlike Buganda, other regions such as Busoga, Ankole, Acholi, and Lango were clearly labeled, causing confusion and concern among Buganda’s subjects.

This is not the first time such an issue has arisen. In April 2018, during his birthday celebrations in Masaka District, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II expressed similar concerns after noticing Buganda’s omission from a national map illustrating regional vaccination coverage.

“All other parts of Uganda, such as Busoga, Karamoja, Ankole, and Bunyoro, are represented on the national map, but Buganda is not indicated. This raises questions about the motive behind this omission,” Kabaka Mutebi remarked at the time.

But UBOS has pledged to continue strengthening its collaboration with Buganda Kingdom and other cultural establishments to promote accurate data representation and foster national unity.