The government of Uganda, as of 2023, operationalized 10 new cities from existing towns, presenting both opportunities and infrastructural challenges. These challenges are amplified by a limited culture of using data and evidence in decision-making.

To support these new cities, three organizations (Sunbird AI, UN Global Pulse, and ToroDev) have teamed up with city authorities first in Jinja and Fortportal under the DataCities Initiative that aims to empower them with the necessary robust data systems to support infrastructure and service improvements.

The DataCities initiative will equip Jinja and Fortportal cities with essential tools for utilizing data in informed decision-making fostering resilience against economic shifts, population fluctuations, and the impacts of climate change, among other things.