Aquaculture development in Uganda began in 1941, with fish farming officially proposed by colonial authorities. The Kajjansi Fish Experimental Station was established in 1947 to explore the farming of tilapia species. Aquaculture further progressed under the rural development initiative, and by late 1968, most ponds were primarily producing fish for subsistence. However, subsistence farming largely depended on seed supply from farmers or government stations, utilizing family labor, which hindered the expansion of the aquaculture sub-sector.
With strategic interventions from the government and support from development partners such as the FAO and ADB, aquaculture began to thrive, reaching an annual production of 15,000 tons by 2005. Located at the equator, Uganda has high potential for fish farming due to its conducive climate, including ideal temperatures for tilapia and catfish, two distinct rainy seasons, abundant natural water sources such as lakes, rivers, and swamps, flat and gently sloping land, plentiful feed ingredient crops, and access to local, regional, and international markets. Additionally, a favorable investment environment has been created by the government.
The primary objective of these interventions was to commercialize fish farming to generate income, improve nutrition, and create employment opportunities. The fish species cultivated include Nile tilapia, African catfish, and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), particularly in the cooler regions of the country. The most prevalent production systems are extensive and semi-intensive pond-based aquaculture systems. Emerging systems include cage culture and tank farming. Currently, pond culture is the dominant system, while cage culture is mainly practiced on Lake Victoria, alongside the use of concrete tanks. Uganda’s estimated annual fish production is 130,000 metric tons (FAO, 2024). Presently, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is conducting a nationwide census of aquaculture to update statistics for planning and decision-making. Fish markets are primarily local and regional (especially in Kenya, the DRC, South Sudan, and Rwanda), with some producers also exporting to international markets.
Regulations, laws, policies, and guidelines are established to guide the establishment and management of aquaculture. Key regulatory frameworks include the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act (2023), Aquaculture Rules (2022), and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2018).
Aquaculture development in Uganda is planned with a focus on several areas in the value chain: research and development; quality fish seed production, particularly by the Kajjansi Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (KARDC) for genetic improvement and seed multiplication by private hatchery operators; promotion and empowerment of groups and associations; establishment of community aquaculture production centers; local fish feed manufacture (noting that most feed is imported); provision of quality inputs to model fish farms; capacity building through training, demonstrations, exhibitions, and tours; marketing promotions; and funding through agricultural banks.
Challenges within the aquaculture sub-sector include inadequate knowledge and skills, poor-quality and expensive inputs (especially feed, seed, equipment, and materials), lack of capital, land and water use issues, and inadequate market and marketing infrastructure. Interventions to support aquaculture development include input support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) for farmers; projects such as the Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project; additional support from development partners such as GIZ; training of technical officers and farmers; and promotion of farmer cooperatives and associations.