Uganda Bureau of Statistics has released the Uganda Aquaculture Census (UAC) Report 2025, revealing steady growth in Uganda’s fish farming sector while highlighting major structural imbalances in production, regional distribution, and value chain development.
The report, the country’s first comprehensive nationwide aquaculture census, provides an in-depth assessment of fish farming as an increasingly important contributor to food security, employment, and household incomes.
Speaking on the findings, UBOS Executive Director Chris N. Mukiza described the census as a landmark initiative for Uganda and the wider continent.
“This report comes at a critical time to guide Government and private sector planning,” Mukiza said, noting that Uganda is setting a precedent in Africa through the first nationwide aquaculture census of its kind.
Urban Farms Drive Production Growth
According to the report, Uganda produced 65,444 metric tonnes of farmed fish between July 2024 and June 2025. Urban and peri-urban farms accounted for 72.1 percent of total output, compared to 27.9 percent produced in rural areas.
The findings indicate that commercial aquaculture is becoming increasingly concentrated around urban centers, where operators benefit from better access to markets, infrastructure, and production inputs.
However, the report also highlights disparities in productivity. Although rural areas host the majority of aquaculture farms—6,408 out of 9,463 holdings—they contribute a much smaller share of total national output.
Tilapia Continues to Dominate
The census shows that Uganda’s aquaculture industry remains heavily dependent on tilapia production. Tilapia accounted for 82.4 percent of total output, equivalent to 53,924 metric tonnes.
Catfish contributed 17.3 percent or 11,347 metric tonnes, while mirror carp and other fish species accounted for only a marginal share of production.
Analysts say the dominance of tilapia reflects strong market demand and established production practices but also exposes the sector to risks linked to limited species diversification.
Regional Imbalances Evident
The report further reveals sharp regional disparities in fish farming activity. The Buganda sub-region emerged as Uganda’s leading aquaculture hub, recording both the highest number of farms and the largest production volumes.
Buganda alone accounts for more than 1,200 aquaculture holdings nationwide.
By contrast, the Sebei sub-region registered the lowest production levels. Meanwhile, Kampala recorded only 20 farms, underscoring how production activities are concentrated in surrounding peri-urban areas rather than within the city itself.
Grow-Out Farming Dominates Sector
UBOS findings indicate that 97.1 percent of fish farms are engaged primarily in grow-out production, where fish are raised to market size.
Only a small proportion of operators run hatcheries or integrated aquaculture systems, highlighting limited development of upstream activities such as breeding and seed production.
The census recorded 273 hatcheries nationwide, but data suggests installed production capacity exceeds actual output, pointing to inefficiencies and underutilization within the fish seed system.
Traditional Production Methods Still Common
Pond farming remains Uganda’s dominant aquaculture production method. Out of all farms surveyed, 8,738 use ponds, significantly outnumbering cage and tank farming operations.
While cage farming is associated with higher productivity and commercial scaling, adoption remains relatively low due to high capital requirements and regulatory restrictions on water bodies.
Commercialization Increasing
The report also points to growing commercialization within the sector, with more than three-quarters of farmers producing fish mainly for sale rather than subsistence consumption.
Additionally, 86.2 percent of farms reported using fish feed, including both commercial and farm-made varieties, indicating gradual intensification of aquaculture practices.
Despite this progress, value addition remains limited, as relatively few operators engage in fish processing, packaging, or export preparation activities.
Extension Services Remain Limited
Access to technical support continues to present a challenge for many farmers. Only 53.3 percent of aquaculture operators reported receiving extension services or professional technical guidance.
Experts say this gap may be limiting productivity, especially in rural areas where farmers require training in disease control, feeding practices, and water quality management.
Calls for Evidence-Based Planning
Dr. Mukiza urged policymakers, investors, and the media to utilize the census findings in shaping future interventions and investments within the aquaculture industry.
The report concludes that while Uganda’s fish farming sector has strong growth potential, unlocking its full commercial value will require targeted efforts to improve rural productivity, diversify fish species, strengthen value chains, and expand access to extension services.
As Uganda positions aquaculture as a key pillar for food security, employment, and export growth, the census offers what officials describe as a critical roadmap for the sector’s future development.
