In a decisive move to modernize Uganda’s fishing industry, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed that indigenous fishermen take the lead in managing the country’s lakes, working alongside the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit.
Speaking in Jinja on 5th August 2025, the President said the new arrangement would empower skilled local fishing communities to sustainably manage aquatic resources, protect breeding zones, and curb illegal fishing, while government strengthens investment in aquaculture and industrial fish processing.
The directive is part of Uganda’s broader development agenda to transition from unregulated exploitation of lakes to a structured, high-value fisheries economy. This will involve organizing fishing communities into SACCOs, each supported with up to UGX 1 billion in capital to expand legal fishing, invest in modern gear, and adopt fish farming through ponds and irrigation-fed aquaculture.
President Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s long-term goal is to reduce dependency on lake fishing by promoting domestic fish farming, citing successful community models earning over UGX 80 million annually. He also pledged to equip landing sites with schools, clean water, health facilities, and stronger security to protect livelihoods.
“This sector is bigger than coffee globally. We must organize it so our people benefit from their heritage and skills,” the President said.
The plan also includes stricter enforcement against illegal gear, protection of fish breeding grounds, investment in processing facilities, and harmonized regional fishing laws. By placing indigenous fishermen at the center of this transformation, government aims to turn Uganda’s waters into engines of rural prosperity and industrial growth.
