Uganda’s aquaculture industry received a major boost on Saturday as Masheda Foods Limited officially unveiled its state-of-the-art catfish processing facility in Buyala, Mpigi District.
The 25-acre factory, located just 15 km from Kampala along Mityana Road, is the first of its kind in Uganda and is set to supply processed catfish products to regional and international markets.
Speaking as chief guest at the launch, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi praised the investment as a model of value addition and a driver of Uganda’s economic transformation.
“Government’s target is to make Uganda a $500 billion economy in the next 15 years. We are focusing on agro-industrialization, tourism, minerals, and science, technology and innovation. Masheda, in my view, is a confluence of all these. For the first time we are seeing Ugandan catfish not just being eaten here or exported raw, but value-added and sent as far as the UK, DRC, and Kenya,” Ggoobi said.
“If we could get as many investors as Masheda Foods across the country, this economy would multiply much faster,” he added.
The facility is part of Masheda Foods’ integrated aquaculture ecosystem that spans hatcheries, training farms, and now large-scale processing.
Founder and Proprietor Esther Ann Ampumuza said Masheda’s vision is rooted in building a homegrown Ugandan brand that creates jobs and tackles malnutrition.
“Catfish is at the heart of this journey. It is healthy, rich in protein, low in cholesterol, and full of vitamins. Promoting catfish is about fighting malnutrition, strengthening families, and building a healthy nation,” she said.
“Through initiatives like Kembogo Aquaculture Park, where we trained over 300 young people, and Nkore Designs, which empowers women through weaving projects, we’ve shown that when communities are given the right tools, they rise. This factory is a bridge from the pond to the dining tables of Kampala, Nairobi, Kinshasa, and London," she added.
Managing Director Marvin Lwasa emphasized that the factory is only the beginning of a much larger ambition.
“The launch signals the real work starting now. We aim to maximize the factory’s capacity, scale production, and show the youth that agriculture is the future. Our exports to Nairobi, Kinshasa and London are proof that aquaculture can be a profitable and sustainable business if done right,” Lwasa explained.
However, he pointed out that access to affordable quality fish feed remains the industry’s biggest bottleneck.
“Farmers lose money because feeds are imported, expensive, and inconsistent. If government can support local feed production, aquaculture will flourish and employ thousands more Ugandans,” Lwasa said.
Jonathan Kiiza Ddembe, the Uganda Catfish Farmer Federation chairman echoed the concern of feeds.
“The biggest challenge is feeds. Without good feeds, catfish eat each other. Imported feeds are too costly and often ineffective in our climate. A local fish feed factory would change everything,” said one farmer from Mubende District.
With the new factory, Masheda Foods is positioning itself as a pioneer in Uganda’s aquaculture revolution turning ponds into profits, empowering farmers and women, and putting Ugandan catfish on the global menu.
