By As the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) prepares to roll out the country’s first-ever national aquaculture census, fish farmers are calling on government to follow data collection with meaningful investment and sector-wide reforms.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lira City on Thursday, fish farmer Ms. Fionah Achayo welcomed the initiative but emphasized the need for more than just numbers. “We need real investment, improved infrastructure, better access to quality fish feeds, and training programs to enhance farming practices,” she said. “Census data is important, but it should lead to tangible change for those of us working in the field.”
Also Read
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere Calls For Peace, Unity As Holds Mass For New Pope
Illness Of Magistrate Stalls Sodomy Trial Against Kampala Pastor Kayanja
Monsignor Expedito Magembe Of Mt. Sion Bukalango Dies At 75
Uganda’s Place in Papal History: Three Popes, Three Moments
After First American Pope Is Elected, Trump And Vance Send Congratulations
Who Is Pope Leo XIV? The First American Leading The Catholic Church
Speaker Anita Among Congratulates Pope Leo XIV on Historic Election
BREAKING: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope, Takes Name Leo XIV
The census, a joint initiative by UBOS and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), is set to begin next week and will target all districts with fish farming activity particularly those located near water bodies. Enumerators will collect data on fish ponds, cages, tanks, and other aquaculture systems.
UBOS Public Relations Officer, Ms. Nancy Agnes Anyango, outlined the scope of the exercise, stating that the data will help fill a long-standing gap in reliable statistics on fish farming. “We’ll collect information from all districts engaged in aquaculture, including farm characteristics, fish species, infrastructure, and labor,” she said. “Once complete, we’ll analyze the findings and support policymakers with evidence-based recommendations.”
Uganda’s aquaculture industry has long struggled with challenges ranging from inadequate infrastructure to limited investment. Without accurate data on fish stocks, farming capacity, and production methods, both the private sector and government have lacked the tools to address these gaps effectively.
Mr. Solomon Eimu, the Lira District fisheries officer, said the census is a critical step toward reviving the sector. “This initiative will provide vital statistics about our fish farmers, their enterprises, and production capacities,” he said. “I encourage all farmers to cooperate with the enumerators.”
Eimu also highlighted the urgency of the initiative amid growing concerns over dwindling fish populations in Uganda’s natural lakes. “Aquaculture is essential to ensuring food security in the face of declining wild stocks,” he added.
Also Read
Finally: Holy White Smoke, We Have A New Pope
Museveni Calls For Disciplined Politics, Warns Against Intimidation Tactics
King Saha Demands Shs200 Million From Tiktoker Dr Cephuco Over Defamation
Black Smoke Again, No Pope Yet On Day Two OF Election
Maro Breaks Silence On Fatal Car Crash: “Life Is A Chance, And I Was Given Mine Again”
UPDF Kills Two Armed Cattle Rustlers In Northern Uganda Crackdown
Bobi Wine Pens Letter To Ankole And Kigezi Elders
According to UBOS, the census will assess everything from the distribution of farms to technical skills, land use, and input availability. The information will serve as a baseline for future development, helping guide policy, attract investment, and ensure sustainability.
Ms. Anyango reiterated that this data would play a vital role in shaping Uganda’s agricultural future. “We are not just counting fish we’re laying the groundwork for a stronger, smarter aquaculture sector,” she said.
