Development of Fish Farming in Uganda

Abstract

The Uganda Fisheries Department as a technical branch of the Game Department, was first established in 1949. Much of the early work was directed to the major lakes and rivers of Uganda, but even then interest in Fish Farms was increasing. Then, as now, protein deficiencies in the food of Ugandans were a subject of concern, and while the fish production from major lakes was being increased to help alleviate the problem, it was clear that for some time to come communication and marketing difficulties would hamper fish sales in many regions. Fish farms and ponds sited near the final consumer offered an obvious way around transport difficulties while large areas of Uganda offered suitable terrain and water supplies for fish ponds. Ponds could utilize otherwise worthless land, and family ponds, dug by farmers and their families as a spare time activity, would represent a "bonus" investment of manpower and time which might otherwise be frittered away. Finally, in certain difficult areas, such as north-west Uganda, the fish farm might produce a cash crop, badly needed in the area.