We had the opportunity to participate in this year’s DataFest Africa, where innovators, policymakers, and community leaders gathered to explore how data is shaping Africa’s urban future. As part of the event, we led a breakout session titled “From City Hall to the Community: Data for Equitable Services and Budgets.” City leaders from Jinja and Fort Portal, including Fort Portal’s Town Clerk and City Health Inspector, shared practical examples of how data is improving urban governance, from using cleaned and verified property datasets to increase Fort Portal’s revenue without raising tax rates, to developing City Data Strategies that ensure planning reflects both institutional priorities and community needs. We also introduced tools still in development, such as the Safisiti waste management system created by our consortium member ToroDev, which aims to help cities better track waste collection and improve sanitation once fully implemented.