Busia, Uganda: The Bugisu Cultural Institution has pledged full support for the Area-Based Commodity Development (ABCD) Data Portal, a digital platform being developed by Busitema University in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to strengthen data-driven agricultural production and regional economic transformation.
The commitment was made during a regional symposium held at Busitema University’s Main Campus, which brought together participants from across Eastern Uganda, including representatives from local governments, religious institutions, cultural leaders, academia and government agencies.
Representing the Umukuuka of Bugisu, the institution’s spokesperson, Steven Masiga, said the cultural institution welcomes the initiative, describing it as a long-awaited tool that will help communities identify and invest in commodities where they enjoy a comparative advantage.
“As the Bugisu Cultural Institution, we fully support the propositions by Busitema University and the Ministry of Finance regarding the Area-Based Commodity Development Data Portal. This digital platform for regional microeconomic data and value chain performance is something our community has been waiting for,” Masiga said.
He pledged that the cultural institution would mobilise communities across Bugisu to embrace the initiative and ensure they benefit from evidence-based planning and production.
“We appreciate the Ministry of Finance and Busitema University for involving the Bugisu Cultural Institution. We shall brief our people and mobilise them to support this important milestone. We are equally grateful that local governments from the Bugisu region have been fully involved. I have seen commercial officers and district community development officers from across the region participating,” he added.
The symposium focused on how digital data can support area-based commodity planning by enabling districts and communities to identify the crops and enterprises best suited to their ecological and economic conditions, thereby improving productivity, value addition and household incomes.
The ABCD Data Portal is expected to generate comprehensive regional economic data that will support government planning, investment decisions and agricultural value chain development.
Officials said the platform is aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and government’s ambition of expanding the country’s economy towards the USD 500 billion target through increased productivity and commercialization.
Representing the Vice Chancellor of Busitema University, Prof. Waako Paul, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs reaffirmed the university’s commitment to conducting research that directly addresses community development challenges and supports national transformation.
The event also brought together representatives from the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Busoga Kingdom and the Budama Cultural Institution, which were selected to represent traditional and cultural institutions in the regional survey underpinning the development of the digital platform.
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