The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has taken a crucial step toward conducting the nation’s first comprehensive aquaculture census by launching an intensive six-day training program for 284 enumerators at Collins Hotel in Mukono. This ambitious exercise aims to map Uganda’s entire fish farming sector, from small backyard ponds to large commercial operations, providing vital data that could shape the country’s food security and economic policies for years to come.

Dr. Vincent Fred Ssenono, UBOS’s acting Executive Director, officially opened the training session with a strong message about the census’s national importance. “We are counting on you to deliver quality data that will guide our nation’s development,” he told the assembled enumerators, emphasizing the need for professionalism and discipline during fieldwork. His words carried special weight as Uganda’s aquaculture sector has grown rapidly in recent years, yet remains poorly documented in official statistics.

The training program represents months of meticulous preparation. A select team of technical experts who previously underwent specialized “training of trainers” in Jinja are now passing their knowledge to the field enumerators. The curriculum covers everything from digital data collection tools to ethical survey practices, ensuring uniform standards across all regions. After completing their training and taking an oath of secrecy, these enumerators will fan out across Uganda’s lakes, rivers and fish farms starting next month.

What makes this census particularly significant is its unprecedented scope. For the first time, Uganda will systematically document all forms of fish farming – including ponds, cages, pens and tanks – in every district where aquaculture exists. The data will reveal not just production volumes, but also the technologies used, environmental impacts, and socioeconomic profiles of fish farmers. Local government officials, particularly district planners and fisheries officers, are collaborating closely to ensure no farm is missed.

“This census comes at a time of growing demand for reliable fisheries data,” explained Dr. Ssenono. With Uganda’s population expanding rapidly and wild fish stocks declining in major lakes like Victoria and Kyoga, aquaculture has become increasingly crucial for protein supply and livelihoods. Yet until now, policymakers have lacked precise information about how many fish farms exist, where they’re located, or what challenges they face. The 2025 census promises to fill these critical knowledge gaps.

The enumerators’ task won’t be easy. Uganda’s aquaculture operations range from sophisticated commercial enterprises to countless small household ponds scattered across rural areas. Some farms are in remote locations with poor road access, while others may be reluctant to share information. This is why the training emphasizes both technical skills and community engagement techniques. Enumerators are learning how to use digital tablets for efficient data capture while maintaining strict confidentiality – a requirement underscored by the oath they’ll take before deployment.

Behind the scenes, UBOS is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to ensure the census delivers maximum value. The resulting data will help assess the sector’s contribution to Uganda’s economy, identify growth opportunities, and guide investments in fish farming technologies. It may also reveal environmental concerns, such as areas where aquaculture expansion is affecting natural ecosystems.

For Uganda’s statistics community, the aquaculture census represents another milestone in building a culture of evidence-based decision making. As the national coordinator of statistical activities, UBOS has recently expanded its data collection efforts across various sectors. Accurate aquaculture statistics could prove particularly valuable as climate change and population growth put pressure on traditional food sources.

As the training sessions continue in Mukono, the enumerators are gaining not just technical knowledge but also a sense of their mission’s importance. The data they collect will shape policies affecting millions of Ugandans – from small-scale fish farmers struggling to access markets to urban consumers facing rising food prices. When the first results are published next year, they may reveal surprises about one of Uganda’s most important but least understood agricultural sectors.

One thing is certain: when the 284 enumerators complete their training and disperse across Uganda with their digital tablets and survey forms, they’ll carry with them the potential to illuminate an entire sector that has operated in statistical darkness for too long. For Uganda’s aquaculture community, the 2025 census may mark the moment their industry finally gets the recognition – and the data-driven support – it deserves.

The success of this exercise could also set a precedent for other African nations grappling with similar information gaps in their aquaculture sectors. As Uganda takes this bold step toward better understanding its blue economy, the world will be watching – not just for the numbers, but for the lessons in how to count what has previously been uncounted. In the end, the true value of the Uganda Aquaculture Census 2025 may lie not just in the data collected, but in the doors it opens for smarter, more sustainable development of a critical food resource.