 |
| State Minister for Fisheries Hellen Adoa (third right) posing for a group photo with other Conference organizers at Uganda Media Center. Photo by: Uganda Media Center |
By Lawrence Kooko
KAMPALA, UGANDA | June 19, 2025 – Uganda is set to host the World Aquaculture Safari (WAS) 2025 from June 24th to 27th at Speke Resort Munyonyo, a high-level conference expected to attract over 2,000 stakeholders from across Africa and the globe. The event is seen as a major opportunity for Uganda to showcase its expanding aquaculture sector and position itself as a regional hub for innovation, trade, and research.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, officially announced Uganda’s readiness to host the event, describing it as “a game-changer” for the country’s blue economy and food security ambitions.
“Uganda currently produces about 130,000 metric tonnes of farmed fish annually, but we are targeting 300,000 metric tonnes as part of our food security strategy. This event will not only help us reach that goal but also create new partnerships and attract investment,” she said.
Hon. Adoa highlighted that Uganda’s aquaculture development is guided by a solid regulatory framework including the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act (2023) and the Aquaculture Rules (2022), supported by ecological advantages such as vast freshwater bodies, favourable temperatures, and a growing youth workforce.
The World Aquaculture Safari, a regional adaptation of the global World Aquaculture Society (WAS) events, has previously been hosted in Egypt, Zambia, and Tunisia. This year’s theme, “Aquaculture on the Rise”, aims to underscore Africa’s progress in sustainable fish farming while encouraging inclusive growth, particularly among women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
 |
| Fisheries State Minister, addressing journalists at Media Center in Kampala |
According to Dr. Anthony Taabu Munyaho, Chairperson of the National Organizing Committee, the event will include exhibitions, field visits, a dedicated Farmer’s Day, and business-to-business sessions.
“WAS 2025 is about linking African innovation to global networks. Uganda is leading a continent-wide conversation on aquaculture’s future—scientifically, commercially, and policy-wise,” Dr. Taabu Munyaho said.
The Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), Dr. Mukasa Tom Bukenya, emphasized the strategic regional impact of the event, saying it aligns with broader African development goals.
“This conference will deepen cooperation among EAC, AU, and COMESA member states, focusing on sustainable aquaculture governance, trade, and youth participation. Uganda’s leadership is commendable,” he noted.
Dr. Bukenya added that the event is supported under the EU-funded TRUEFISH Project, which seeks to strengthen the governance of Lake Victoria’s resources and improve fish value chains across the region.
Uganda’s aquaculture industry predominantly uses extensive and semi-intensive pond systems, but the country is witnessing a rise in cage culture, especially on Lake Victoria, as well as tank-based systems in urban and peri-urban areas. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is currently conducting a national aquaculture census to update planning data.
The World Aquaculture Safari 2025 is also expected to benefit local institutions such as NARO-NaFIRRI, Makerere University, Busitema University, and NAGRIC, by boosting research, aquatic health systems, and regional competitiveness.
As excitement builds, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry
and Fisheries (MAAIF) is calling on farmers, researchers, investors, students,
and development partners to attend, exhibit, and contribute to shaping Africa’s
blue economy future.