The Government of Uganda has been urged to prioritise establishment of aquaculture parks to boost national fish production, as traditional capture fisheries continue to decline.
Dr. Swaibu Mbowa, a Senior Research Fellow at the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), championed aquaculture as a “scalable and sustainable investment” that offers a viable path for the country. “We can sustainably manage our water bodies through cage farming and aquaculture,” he stated.
He made these remarks at the Aquaculture Cottage Industry Business Symposium, organised by Gudie Leisure Farm in Kira, Wakiso district on November 3, 2025. The event brought together government officials and district leaders from the Acholi sub-region to discuss the sector’s potential.
The call to action highlights a major missed opportunity. With support from the European Union (EU), the Government of Uganda (GoU) developed an aquaculture feasibility study in 2013 for the establishment of commercial fish parks.
The study projected that, if implemented, the parks would have boosted annual fish production to 11.3 million metric tons and created an estimated 3.2 million jobs. The document has largely remained unused, limiting the potential of Uganda’s aquaculture industry. “The objective was to boost fish production and employment. That document is there [and should be used],” Dr. Mbowa stressed.
Dr Swaibu Mbowa presenting opportunities in the aquaculture sub-sector. Photo/EPRC
Dr. Mbowa emphasised the stark efficiency difference between modern aquaculture and traditional fishing methods. “It will take you 12 years if you are doing capture fish to catch the same fish as someone doing cage farming will catch in one year. The message here is that we need to embrace technology.”
Embracing aquaculture would sustainably boost fish production and, crucially, relieve the burden of overfishing on Uganda’s natural lakes. The sector also demonstrates financial resilience. EPRC analysis has demonstrated that between the 2006 and 2014 period as domestic capture fish stocks declined, national earnings went up due to rising unit prices and ready both domestic and global market.
“The unit prices were going up, and that means that the stocks that were going down didn’t impact much on what the country was getting,” he explained. “What we must do is to produce fish.”
Get Report: Harnessing Floating Cage Technology to Increase Fish Production in Uganda
Prof Gudula Basaza, the Gudie Leisure Farm Executive Director, said the symposium showcased opportunities in the fish value chain, expressing optimism that aquaculture would create employment opportunities for young people.
Participants at the 2025 Aquaculture Cottage Industry Business Symposium, organised by Gudie Leisure Farm in Kira, Wakiso district. Photo/EPRC
