The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), has announced plans to conduct the Aquaculture Census 2025 beginning in May. The national exercise aims to gather comprehensive data on the aquaculture sector to support evidence-based planning and policy development.
According to UBOS, the census will be the primary source of structural data on aquaculture in Uganda. It will focus on the number, size, and distribution of aquaculture holdings, the characteristics of aquaculture households, land use, and the technologies involved in fish farming.
The census will generate vital information in four key areas: the total number of aquaculture farms in the country, production levels and systems used, the socio-economic status of aquaculture operators and their households, and the environmental impact of aquaculture activities.
UBOS emphasized that all aquaculture farms, regardless of size or type, will be visited during the census. This includes both household-based and commercial aquaculture enterprises.
The Bureau has assured stakeholders that all information collected will be handled with strict confidentiality and will solely be used for statistical purposes. UBOS further appealed to local governments, key stakeholders, and the general public to support the census by providing accurate and truthful data to the enumerators.
The census is part of Uganda’s broader strategy to strengthen the agriculture sector by ensuring data-driven decisions and investments. With aquaculture emerging as a significant contributor to food security and employment, the data collected is expected to play a critical role in shaping future interventions and policies.
