By: Joseph Mary Buwule
KAJJANSI, Uganda – Uganda’s aquaculture sector has received a major boost following the official opening of the Uganda Aquaculture Expo 2026 in Kajjansi, where government officials, researchers, farmers, investors and development partners pledged to work together to transform fish farming into a globally competitive export industry.
The three-day expo, organized by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and partners, was officially launched by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Robert Migadde Ndugwa, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable aquaculture through research, innovation and investment.
The opening ceremony attracted key stakeholders from across the fisheries value chain, with the exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies, improved fish production systems, research innovations, practical demonstrations and business networking opportunities aimed at strengthening Uganda’s aquaculture industry.
Delivering the keynote address, Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo challenged stakeholders to move beyond viewing aquaculture as a small-scale livelihood activity and instead position it as a major export industry capable of driving Uganda’s economic transformation.
Rwabwogo said the country’s fisheries sector possesses enormous potential, but success will depend on building an efficient ecosystem that supports production, processing and access to international markets.
“The question is not only how we produce more fish, but how we organise the full ecosystem around it,” he said.
He emphasized the need for quality fish seed and fingerlings, affordable and reliable fish feeds, improved certification systems, cold chain infrastructure, export financing, transport infrastructure and stronger market access.
According to Rwabwogo, a well-organized fisheries industry could generate up to USD 2 billion in export earnings and create between 200,000 and 250,000 jobs over the next five years.
He noted that Uganda already possesses the natural resources, scientific expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and human capital required to achieve this ambition.
“Uganda has the water, the science, the farmers and the entrepreneurial energy. What we need now is discipline, coordination and scale,” he said.
Rwabwogo applauded the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), NARO, the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) Kajjansi and other partners for advancing research and innovation within the sector.
He stressed that the future of Uganda’s fisheries industry will be driven by science, market-led production, strong organization and patient leadership.
The exhibition floor came alive with demonstrations of modern aquaculture technologies, fish processing innovations, improved production techniques and business solutions designed to increase productivity and competitiveness across the fish value chain.
NARO said the expo continues today with more exhibitions, live demonstrations, expert technical sessions and business networking opportunities aimed at connecting farmers, researchers, processors, investors and policymakers.
The Uganda Aquaculture Expo 2026 is expected to strengthen partnerships, promote knowledge sharing and attract investment that will accelerate the commercialization and sustainable growth of Uganda’s aquaculture sector, positioning fisheries as a key contributor to the country’s export earnings and job creation agenda.