This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Uganda statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Ugandan statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Ugandan-specific metadata information.
| Goal |
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation |
|---|---|
| Target |
Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. |
| Indicator |
Indicator 9.5.2: Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants |
| Metadata update |
November, 2021 |
| Related indicators |
9.b, 12.a, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8 |
| Organisation |
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation |
| Contact person(s) |
Osujo Emmanuel Francis |
| Contact organisation unit |
Department of Policy and Planning |
| Contact person function |
Statistician |
| Contact phone |
+256 776 039935 |
| Contact mail |
P.O Box 7186, Kampala |
| Contact email |
emanfr@gmail.com |
| Definition and concepts |
Number of professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge (who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques instrumentation, software or operational methods) during a given year expressed as a proportion of a population of one million. Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge. Researchers are professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge. They conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques instrumentation, software or operational methods. The Full-time equivalent (FTE) of R&D personnel is defined as the ratio of working hours actually spent on R&D during a specific reference period (usually a calendar year) divided by the total number of hours conventionally worked in the same period by an individual or by a group. In other words, one full-time equivalent may be thought of as one person-year. Thus, a person who normally spends 30% of his/her time on R&D and the rest on other activities (such as teaching, university administration and student counselling) should be considered as 0.3 FTE. Similarly, if a full-time R&D worker is employed at an R&D unit for only six months, this results in an FTE of 0.5. Therefore, it is measured by combining two variables: actual involvement in R&D activities and formal engagement on the basis of normative/statutory working hours. |
| Unit of measure |
Proportion |
| Classifications |
International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) (UN-ILO, 2012) and the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011 (UNESCO-UIS, 2012). |
| Data sources |
Research and Development Survey |
| Data collection method |
Research and Development (R&D) Questionnaire |
| Data collection calendar |
Annually |
| Data release calendar |
2023 |
| Data providers |
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI), UNCST, Uganda Bureau of Statistics |
| Data compilers |
MOSTI |
| Institutional mandate |
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoST&I) is mandated to oversee the overall contribution of the ST&I sector towards attaining key objectives which are focused on mainstreaming Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) in the development process of Uganda. |
| Rationale |
The indicator is a direct measure of the number of research and development workers per one million people referred to in the target. FTE is considered to be a true measure of the volume of R&D and also the main R&D personnel statistic for international comparisons. |
| Comment and limitations |
R&D data need to be collected through surveys, which are expensive, and are not done on a regular basis in Uganda. |
| Method of computation |
Number of researchers during a given year divided by the total population (using mid-year population as reference) and multiplied by 1,000,000. |
| Validation |
None |
| Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level |
Guidelines as specified in the Frascati Manual |
| Quality management |
Quality checks are undertaken during questionnaire design, pretesting, recruitment and training of enumerators, data collection, data analysis and report writing. |
| Quality assurance |
Quality management is undertaken in line with practices recommended under the Frascatti manual and Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The entire statistical value chain from the extraction of raw data to its use for decision support is followed and care is taken in the planning and implementation phases to ensure quality data. |
| Quality assessment |
Quality standards are adhered to at every stage of the statistical value chain |
| Data availability and disaggregation |
Research & Development surveys are to be undertaken at least once in 3 years. However, data availability remains a key challenge sector of employment, field of science, sex and age |
| Comparability/deviation from international standards |
No deviation Use of the same standard ensures comparability |
| References and Documentation |
National Research and Development survey report. Annual Statistical Abstract OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/science-and-technology/frascati-manual-2015_9789264239012-en. |
| Metadata last updated | Feb 12, 2026 |