FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS 942 
First Edition  
2012 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
FDUS 942: 2012 
© UNBS 2012  
  
Code of Practice for official statistics  
 FDUS 942: 2012  
ii © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct  application  
© UNBS 20 12  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permissi on from UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: 256 41 4 505 995  
Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Abbrevia ted terms  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 2 
5 Basic criteria for official statistics  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 2 
6 Principles  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
6.1 Institutional environment ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
6.1.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
6.1.2  Professional independence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
6.1.3  Mandate for data collection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
6.1.4  Adequacy of resources  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
6.1.5  Quality assurance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 4 
6.1.6  Statistical confidentiality  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  5 
6.1.7  Impartiality and objectivity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  6 
6.2 Statistical processes  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  6 
6.2.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  6 
6.2.2  Sound methodology  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  6 
6.2.3  Burden on the respondents  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  7 
6.2.4  Cost effectiveness  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 7 
6.3 Statistical output  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 7 
6.3.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  7 
6.3.2  Relevance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  7 
6.3.3  Accuracy and reliability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
6.3.4  Timeliness and punctuality  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  8 
6.3.5  Coherence and comparability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
6.3.6  Accessibility and avail ability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  8 
7 Protocols  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  9 
7.1 User engagement  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 9 
7.2 Release practi ces ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  10 
7.3 Use of administrative sources for statistical purposes  ................................ ................................ .. 10 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  12 
 FDUS 942: 2012  
iv © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co -ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Or ganisation for Standardisation (ISO) ,  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is c arried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft U ganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the  National Standards Council.  
Committee membership  
The following organisations were represented on the Technical  Committee  on Applied Statistical Methods , 
UNBS/TC 1 7, during the development of this standard:  
 Bank of Uganda  
 Ministry of Education & Sports  
 Ministry of Finance , Planning & Economic Development  
 Ministry of Health  
 School of Statistics & Applied Economics, Makerere University  
 Uganda Bureau of Statistics  
 Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
 Uganda National Council for Science & Technology  
 Uganda Reven ue Authority  FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  v 
 Introduction  
Official statistics are fundamental to good governance, delivery of public services and decision -making in all 
sectors of society. They provide Parliament and the public with a window on society and the economy, and on 
the work a nd performance of government. Observance of a common Code of Practice by all the public bodies 
that produce official statistics  is central to maintaining a unified statistical service that meets the needs of 
government and society and is both trustworthy a nd trusted  official statistics are defined in the  national 
statistical legislation.   
This Code of Practice has been developed to improve trust and confidence in the quality of statistics produced  
and disseminated in the National Statistical System (NSS).  This Code , which  is consistent with the United 
Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics , is design ed to support the assessment of compliance by 
Uganda Bureau of Statistics . 
Implementatio n of this Code of Practice is  spearheaded by UBOS in colla boration with other MDAs in line with 
the prevailing national statistical legislation.  The Head of National Statistics Office  in collaboration with the 
coordination and assessment team offers  supplementary guidance to assist agencies that produce official 
statistics. The Head of National Statistics Office  is a statutory office holder  with responsibilities underlined in  
the national statistical legislation . 
 
 
 
 FINAL DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  FDUS 942: 2012  
 
© UNBS 2012 – All rights reserved  1 
 Code of Practice for official statistics  
1 Scope  
This Code of Practice covers the principles and protocols for the production, management and dissemination 
of official statistics.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For u ndated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)  
Compendium of Statistical Concepts and definitions  
National Statistical Meta Data Dictionary  
Statistical Quality Assessment Framework for Uganda  
System of National Accounts (SNA)  
FDUS 943 , Guidelines for production of quality statistics   
US ISO  3534 -1, Statistics — Vocabulary and symbols  
US ISO  3534 -2, Statistics — Vocabulary and symbo ls Part 2: Applied statistics  
US ISO  3534 -3, Statistics — Vocabulary and symbols Part 3: Design of experiments  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in US ISO 3534 -1, US ISO 3534 -2 and US 
ISO 3534 -3, Com pendium of Statistical Concepts  and National  Statistical Meta Data Dictionary  and the 
following apply.  
3.1 
production, management and dissemination of official statistics   
entire statistical process from the identification of needs, to the decision to col lect or compile data, through to 
providing advice to the user  
3.2 
Head of National statistics office  
head of national statistics office  FDUS 942: 2012  
2 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 3.3 
official statistics  
statistics produced by an agency in the NSS, which the Head of the National Statistical Office designates or 
certifies in line with the national statistical legislation  
3.4 
relevant Head of statistics functions  
managers of MDAs under which the statistical function is nurtured  
3.5 
statistical report  
any statistical output, including any associated c ommentary and metadata  
4 Abbreviated terms  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 Basic criteria for official statistics  
5.1 Official statistics are produced by Ministries, Departments and Agencies  (MDA ) in the National 
Statistical System  (NSS). COICOP  Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose  
CPC  Central Product Classification  
DUS  Draft Uganda Standard  
GFS Government Finance Statistics  
FAO  Food and Agricultural Organisation  
HS Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System  
ICD International classification of disease  
ICF International classification of Functioning Disability and Health  
ISIC International Standard Industrial Classification  
ISO  International Organisa tion for Standardisation  
ISCO  International standard classification of Occupation  
MDAs  Ministries, Departments and Agencies  
NSS National Statistical System  
SNA  System of National Accounts  
UBOS  Uganda Bureau of Statistics  
UNBS  Uganda National Burea u of Standards  
UK United Kingdom  
WHO  World Health Organisation  
WTO  World Trade Organisation  FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS  2012  – All rights reserved  3 
 5.2 The MDA is responsible for the content of the statistics, and for the correctness of the data, thus 
guaranteeing continuity in the production of the statistics.  
5.3 The statistics from the publishing MDA is subject to a comprehens ive quality assessment process 
based on the Statistical Quality Assessment Framework for Uganda, as a pre -requisite for certification of 
official statistics by the Head of the National Statistics Office.  
5.4 Official statistics contain an up-to-date quali ty description approved by the Head of the National 
Statistics Office.  
6 Principles  
6.1 Institutional environment  
6.1.1  General  
Institutional and organisational factors have a significant influence on the effectiveness and credibility of MDAs 
producing, ma naging and disseminating official statistics. The relevant issues are  
 professional independence,  
 mandate for data collection,  
 adequacy of resources,  
 quality assurance,  
 statistical confidentiality,  
 impartiality and  
 objectivity.  
6.1.2 Professional independence  
The professional independence of MDA s from other policy, regulatory or administrative departments and 
bodies, as well as from private sector operators, ensures the credibility of official statistics in Uganda. The 
practices  below  shall be adhered  to: 
a) the independence of the  MDA  from political and other external interference in producing and 
disseminating official statistics as specified in the law;  
b) the Head of National Statistics Office  has the responsibility for ensuring that official statistics  are 
produced and disseminated in an independent manner ; 
c) the Head of National Statistics Office  has sufficiently high hierarchical standing to ensure senior -level 
access to policy authorities and administrative public bodies. He/she should be of the highes t 
professional calibre ; 
d) the Head of National Statistics Office  has the sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, 
standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of official statistical releases ; 
e) the statistical work programmes shall be published, and periodic reports to describe progress made. 
Statistical releases shall be clearly distinguished and issued separately from political/policy 
statements ; FDUS 942: 2012  
4 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 f) the Head of National Statistics Office , where appropriate, sh all comment publicly on s tatistical issues, 
including criticisms and misuses of official statistics ; 
g) MDAs  shall follow all statutory obligations and internationally endorsed guidelines governing 
production, management and dissemination of official statistics ; and  
h) MDAs  shall inform  the Head of National Statistics Office  about complaints that relate to professional 
integrity, quality or standards, whether or not they can be resolved directly.  
6.1.3 Mandate for data collection  
MDAs  shall have a clear legal mandate to collect informati on for official statistical purposes. Administrative 
units, enterprises, households, and individuals  may be compelled by law to allow access to or provide data for 
statistical purposes at the request of statistical authorities. The following practices shal l be adhered to.  
a) the mandate to collect information for the production and dissemination of official statistics as 
specified in the law; 
b) MDAs are allowed by statistical legislation to use administrative records for statistical purposes ; and  
c) on the basis of  a legal act, MDAs may compel response to statistical surveys . 
6.1.4 Adequacy of resources  
The resources made available for statistical activities shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this Code 
and shall be used efficiently and effectively. T o ensure adequacy of resources, t he following practices shall be 
adhered to : 
a) ensure that the MDA  has the staff, financial and computing resources to produce, manage and 
disseminate official statistics to the standards of this Code ; 
b) include specific resources for user consultation in budgets ; 
c) ensure that records are maintained showing the relationship between the statistical planning process, 
the work programme, the allocation of resources, and the outcomes ; 
d) monitor expenditure against work programmes and demon strate effective stewardship of resources 
allocated to statistical work ; 
e) seek to balance quality (for example, accuracy and timeliness) against costs (including both costs to 
government and data suppliers), taking into account the expected uses of the stat istics ; 
f) ensure that appropriately skilled people are employed in the statistical production process. Use an 
appropriate competence framework to set the requirements of statistical posts and the development 
needs of staff, and support staff in developing th eir statistical, management and subject area 
knowledge ; and  
g) where administrative sources are used for statistical purposes, follow the practices set out in 6.3.  
6.1.5 Quality assurance  
Data producers shall commit themselves to provide quality data/informat ion. T o ensure the quality assurance 
of the data produced, the following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) regularly assessment of product quality is according to the NSS quality dimensions. The dimensions 
of quality are  
 relevance,  FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS  2012  – All rights reserved  5 
  accuracy,  
 timeliness,  
 accessibility,  
 interpretability,  
 reliability  
 comparability and coherence,  
 methodological soundness and  
 integrity ; 
b) availability of processes to assess the quality of the collection, processing and dissemination of 
statistics ;  
c) availability of processes to deal with quality considerations, including trade -offs within quality, and to 
guide planning for existing and emerging surveys ; 
d) adoption of  quality assurance procedures, including the consideration of each statistical product 
against users’ requirements, a nd of their coherence with other statistical products.  
e) documentation and publication of  quality standards and guidelines and well trained staff .  
f) regular and thorough review of the key statistical outputs using external experts where appropriate ; 
and 
g) achievement of  continuous improvement in statistical processes by, for example, undertaking regular 
reviews or releasing statistical work in progress such as experimental statistics.  
6.1.6 Statistical confidentiality  
Private information about individual person s (including bodies corporate) compiled in the production of official  
statistics is confidential, and should be used for statistical purposes only. T o achieve statistical confidentiality, 
the following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) ensure that official st atistics do not reveal the identity of an individual or organisation, or any private 
information relating to them, taking into account other relevant sources of information ; 
b) keep confidential information secure. Only permit its use by trained staffs who ha ve signed a 
declaration covering their obligations under this Code ; 
c) inform respondents for statistical surveys and censuses on how confidentiality will be protected ; 
d) ensure that arrangements for confidentiality protection are sufficient to protect the priv acy of individual 
information, but not so restrictive as to limit unduly the practical utility of official statistics. Publish 
details of such arrangements ; 
e) seek prior authorisation from the Head of National Statistics Office  for any exceptions, required b y law 
or thought to be in public interest, to the principle of confidentiality protection. Publish details of such 
authorisations ; and  
f) prepare written confidentiality protection agreements where confidential statistical records are 
exchanged for statistica l purposes with a third party. Keep an operational record to detail the manner 
and purpose of the processing.  FDUS 942: 2012  
6 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 6.1.7 Impartiality and objectivity  
Official statistics, and information about statistical processes, shall be managed impartially and objectively  and 
to achieve this objective, t he following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) publish statistical reports in an orderly manner, in accordance with the standards for reports ; 
b) present statistics impartially and objectively ; 
c) make official statistics equally ava ilable to all, subject to statutory provisions for pre -release access ; 
d) announce changes to methods or classifications well in advance of the release of the changed 
statistics ; 
e) publish details of any exemption from the practices of the Code, as agreed by UB OS; 
f) publish a Revisions’ Policy for statistics that are subject to scheduled revisions. Provide a statement 
explaining the nature and extent of revisions at the same time that they are released ; 
g) correct errors discovered in statistical reports, and alert s takeholders, promptly ; 
h) release all regular statistical reports on the internet without a charge to the user ; and  
i) for any supplementary statistical services for which a charge is made, adopt clear pricing policies that 
comply with legislation and relevant p olicy.  
6.2 Statistical processes  
6.2.1 General  
National and international standards, guidelines and good practices shall be fully observed in the processes 
used by the MDAs  to organise, collect, process and disseminate official statistics. The credibility of the 
statistics is enhanced by a reputation for effective management and efficiency. The relevant aspects are 
sound methodology, appropriate statistical procedures, non -excessive burden on respondents and cost 
effectiveness.  
6.2.2 Sound methodology  
Soun d methodology is a pre -requisite of quality  statistics  and this requires adequate tools, procedures and 
expertise. Statistical methods shall be consistent with scientific principles and internationally recognised best 
practices, and be fully documented. Qu ality sh all be monitored and assured taking account of internationally 
agreed practices. The following practices shall be adhered to  in ensuring sound methodology:  
a) promote comparability within Uganda and internationally by, for example, adopting common 
standards, concepts, sampling frames, questions, definitions, statistical units and classifications 
(including common geographic referencing and coding standards). In addition, make the reasons for  
any deviations from standard models publicly available ; 
b) where time series are revised or changes are made to methods or coverage, produce consistent 
historical data where possible ; 
c) follow national and other international standards, guidelines and best practices in the overall 
methodological framework of the statisti cal authority ; 
d) put in place procedures  to ensure that standard concepts, definitions and classifications are 
consistently applied throughout the NSS ; 
e) regularly update sampling frames for surveys , if necessary , to ensure quality ; and  FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS  2012  – All rights reserved  7 
 f) co-operate with subject  matter experts to regularly improve methodology.  
6.2.3 Burden on the respondents  
The respondent burden should be proportionate to the needs of the users. The statistical authority monitors 
the response burden and sets targets for its reduction over time. The following practices shall be adhered to  in 
determining the burden on the respondent : 
a) the range and detail of official statistics demands s hall be  limited to what is absolutely necessary ; 
b) the reporting burden s hall spread as widely as possible over surv ey populations through appropriate 
sampling techniques ; 
c) the information sought from businesses s hall, as far as possible, be readily available from their 
accounts and electronic means shall be  used where possible to facilitate its return ; 
d) best estimates an d approximations shall be accepted when exact details are not readily available ; 
e) administrative sources shall be  used whenever possible to avoid duplicating requests for information ; 
f) data sharing within and between MDAs  shall be  encouraged in order to mini mise duplication of efforts ; 
and 
g) related data collection activities within and between MDAs  shall be harmonise d and where possible 
joint surveys  shall be  conduct ed.   
6.2.4 Cost effectiveness  
In determining the cost -effectiveness of statistical processes, the following practices shall be adhered to:  
a) internal and independent external measures to monitor the MDAs’  use of resources shall be in place ; 
b) manual operations ( for example,  data capture, coding and validation) shall be automated to the extent 
possible ; 
c) productivity potential of information and communications technology shall be optimised for data 
collection, processing and dissemination ; and  
d) proactive efforts shall be made to improve the statistical potential of administrative records and avoid 
costly direct surveys.  
6.3 Statistical output  
6.3.1  General  
The production, management and dissemination of official statistics should meet the requirements of informed 
decision -making by government, public services, business, researchers and the public.  The impo rtant issues 
concern the extent to which the statistics are relevant, accurate and reliable, timely, coherent, comparable 
across regions and countries, and readily accessible by users.  
6.3.2 Relevance  
In determining the relevance of statistics, t he followi ng practices shall be adhered to : 
a) engage effectively with users of statistics to maximize public value, in accordance with 6.1 ; 
b) identify and document the needs of users of official statistics and the types of decisions they inform ; FDUS 942: 2012  
8 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 c) document users’ experien ces of statistical services provided, data quality, and the format and timing 
of statistical reports ; and  
d) conduct user satisfaction surveys periodically.  
6.3.3 Accuracy and reliability  
In determining the accuracy and reliability of statistics, the  followin g practices shall be adhered to:  
a) assess and validate source data, intermediate results and statistical outputs ; 
b) measure and systematically document sampling and non -sampling errors ; and  
c) study and analyse revisions routinely and use the revisions internally  to inform statistical processes.  
6.3.4 Timeliness and punctuality  
In determining  timeliness and punctuality of statistics,  the following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) timeliness shall meet the national and international dissemination standards ; 
b) a standar d daily time shall be set for the release of high frequency official statistics ; 
c) periodicity of official statistics shall consider user requirements as much as possible ; 
d) any divergence from the dissemination time schedule shall be publicised in advance, ex plained and a 
new release date set ; and  
e) preliminary results of acceptable aggregate quality may be disseminated when considered useful.  
6.3.5 Coherence and comparability  
Official statistics should be consistent internally, over time and comparable between regions and countries; it 
should be possible to combine and make joint use of related data from different sources. In this regard, the 
following practices sh ould be adhered to : 
a) statistics shall be internally coherent and consistent ( for example,  arithmetic  and accounting identities 
observed ); 
b) statistics shall be reconcilable over a reasonable period of time ; 
c) statistics shall be compiled on the basis of common standards with respect to scope, definitions, units 
and classifications in the different surveys an d sources ; 
d) statistics from the different surveys and sources shall be comparable and reconcilable ; and  
e) ensure cross -national statistical comparability through periodical exchanges between the NSS.  
6.3.6 Accessibility and availability  
Official statistics, a ccompanied by complete commentary, shall be readily accessible to all users  and the 
following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) provide information on the quality and reliability of statistics in relation to the range of potential uses, 
and on methods, proced ures, and classifications ; 
b) prepare and disseminate commentary and analysis that aid interpretation, and provide factual 
information about the policy or operational context of official statistics ; FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS  2012  – All rights reserved  9 
 c) present  statistics  in form ats that facilitate analysis, interpretation , meaningful comparisons  and reuse ; 
d) use modern information and communication technology and, if appropriate, traditional hard copy  for 
dissemination services ; 
e) allow access to micro -data for research purposes. This access is subject to strict pro tocols ; 
f) document  metadata  according to shared and agreed formats ; 
g) inform  users on the methodology of statistical processes and the quality of statistical outputs with 
respect to the NSS quality criteria ; 
h) implement controls to ensure that individuals do no t abuse the trust placed in them for personal gain ; 
i) promote a culture within which statistical experts in government can comment publicly on statistical 
issues, including the misuse of official statistics ; 
j) develop and publicise a client service charter ; and 
k) make data and statistics available in as much detail as is reliable and practical, within the confines of 
the relevant confidentiality agreements.  
7 Protocols  
7.1 User engagement  
Effective user engagement is fundamental in ensuring trust in the statisti cs generated and securing maximum 
public value. This protocol draws together the relevant practices highlighted in the Code and expands on the 
requirements in relation to consultation with key stakeholders. The following practices shall be adhered to : 
a) define and document the process of user engagement ; 
b) make users aware of how they can find the information they need ; 
c) take account of users’ views on the presentation of statistics, and associated commentary, datasets 
and metadata ; 
d) provide users with informatio n about the quality of statistics, including any statistical biases ; 
e) involve users in the evaluation of experimental statistics ; 
f) seek feedback from users on their experiences of the statistical service they receive, data quality, and 
the format and timing of outputs. Review the feedback systematically ; 
g) respond to data requests from various users in a timely manner ; and   
h) consult users before making changes that affect statistics (for example, to coverage, definitions, or 
methods) or publications. Consultatio ns should be:  
i. informed , by relevant central guidance on how consultations should be conducted; and by the 
views of user groups on the best means of obtaining views;  
ii. efficient , by balancing the importance of the issue and the likely impact of users’ views a gainst 
the time and resources available, so as to obtain good value for money from the consultation 
process; by liaising and co -ordinating with other producers to avoid duplication of effort and to 
minimise burdens; and by exploiting different methods of c onsultation;  FDUS 942: 2012  
10 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 iii. clear, by describing the consultation, and expressing the issues, as simply and concisely as 
possible; and by publishing the timetable for each consultation; and  
iv. responsive , by publishing the records of decisions and actions following a consu ltation, together 
with explanations for them; and by publishing individual responses, unless anonymity is 
requested.  
7.2 Release practices  
Statistical reports shall be released into the public domain in an orderly manner that promotes public 
confidence and  gives equal access to all, subject to relevant legislation. The following practices shall be 
adhered to:  
a) publish an annual timetable for statistical releases in advance ; 
b) release of statistical reports shall comply with the advance release calendar schedul e;  
c) release  official statistics  on a particular date  and publish simultaneously  online ; 
d) ensure that all statistics included in the Annual Statistics Abstract are assessed for quality and cleared 
for release ;  
e) plan press releases for regular and frequent s tatistical products twelve months in advance ; 
f) inform stakeholders of any changes in the release dates and explain the reasons for the change. The 
relevant statistical Head of Department/Directorate/Division has the final decision and should not be 
influenc ed by any external or internal factors ; 
g) share contacts of focal persons responsible for the respective statistical reports with the users to 
enable easier access and retrieval of information.  
h) ensure that no indication of the content of a statistical report  is made public, or given to the media or 
any other party not recorded as eligible for access before publication. Report to the Head of the 
National Statistics Office immediately of any accidental or wrongful release, and investigate the 
circumstances.  
i) ensure that no action is taken within the producer body, or public statement made, that might 
undermine confidence in the independence of the statistics when released.  
j) ensure that government statements issued alongside official statistics, and referring to, o r based 
upon, them:  
i. contain a prominent link to the statistical release and clearly refer to the source of the statistics;  
ii. are labelled clearly as policy statements (or ministerial statements) and are readily distinguished 
from a statistical release; and  
iii. meet basic professional standards (for example, statistics should be cited accurately, and charts 
should be drawn in an accurate and impartial way).  
7.3 Use of administrative sources for statistical purposes  
Administrative sources shall be fully exploited f or statistical purposes, subject to adherence to appropriate 
safeguards. The following practices shall be adhered to:  
a) observe all statutory obligations and relevant guidelines for production of quality statistics in relation to 
confidentiality of data ; FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS  2012  – All rights reserved  11 
 b) use administrative data with clear definitions and concepts for statistical purposes ; 
c) maximise opportunities for the use of administrative data, cross -analysis of sources, exchange and re -
use of data, to avoid duplicating requests for information. Where possi ble, use common information 
technology and information management systems that facilitate the flow of information between 
producers of statistics ; 
d) prepare, in consultation with the leadership of the Statistics Office, a Statement of Administrative 
Sources which identifies the following:  
i. administrative systems currently used in the production of official statistics ; 
ii. procedures to be followed within the organisation to ensure that full account takes care of the 
implications for official statistics when change s to administrative systems are contemplated  
iii. information on other administrative sources that are not currently used in the production of official 
statistics but have potential to be used ; 
iv. arrangements for providing statistical staff, whether inside the pr oducer body or elsewhere, with 
access to administrative data for statistical purposes ; 
v. arrangements for auditing the quality of administrative data used for statistical purposes ; and  
vi. arrangements for ensuring the security of statistical processes that draw  on administrative data.  
 
 FDUS 942: 2012  
12 © UNBS 2012  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] Africa Statistics Charter  
[2] Central Product Classification (CPC)  
[3] Chart of Accounts   
[4] Code of Practice for the Production of Official Statistics UK. (2009)  
[5] European Statistics Code of Practice (2005 ) 
[6] Government Finance Statistics (GFS) manual  
[7] Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)  
[8] International classification of disease (ICD)  
[9] International classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF)  
[10] International Standard Classification of Occupation (ISCO)  
[11] International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC)  
[12] Standards and Guidelines for Reports  
[13] Standard International Trade Classification (SITC)  
[14] UN guidelines for conducting censuses.  
[15] UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics  
 FDUS 942: 2012  
© UNBS 2012 – All rights reserved  13 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Sta ndard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of th e Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standard s.  
 
 FDUS 942: 2012    
 
ICS nn.nnn.nn  
Price based on nn pages  
© UNBS 2012 – All rig hts reserved