Kampala – The Ugandan government, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has convened a Resource Partners and Stakeholders’ Conference to mobilise funding and strengthen collaboration for the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries.
The meeting, held at Serena Conference Centre in Kampala, focused on advancing the implementation of the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF).
Uganda’s fisheries sector contributes 3% to the national GDP and 12% to agricultural GDP, providing employment to 3.2 million people and serving as a key source of nutrition for 15 million Ugandans.
However, small-scale fishers and fish workers remain underrepresented in decision-making processes, limiting the sector’s growth.
The NPOA-SSF, developed through a participatory approach involving fishers, government agencies, academia, and NGOs, aligns with FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, the first international framework dedicated solely to small-scale fisheries.
While efforts to implement the plan are underway, significant funding gaps remain.
Uganda has allocated Shs 3 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year to support fisheries activities, far below the required Shs 20 billion.
“The fund is low, yet the work we have to do is a lot. We are hoping that the government of Uganda doubles it for us,” said Daisy Olyel Aciro, commissioner for Fisheries Resources Management and Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The total investment required for priority areas over the next five years is estimated at Shs139.71 billion ($37.7 million), with funds needed for adaptive fisheries governance, habitat management, and increased fish production.
The investment is seen as crucial to safeguarding an industry that generated Shs 2 trillion in the 2022/2023 financial year.
Stakeholders at the conference highlighted several challenges, including low productivity, environmental degradation, and inadequate conservation efforts.
“The sector is faced with many challenges, including low productivity. We need to address those by creating special zones for conservation, fish breeding areas, and promoting aquaculture to sustain production and productivity,” said Joseph Bwanika, Commissioner for Aquaculture at MAAIF.
Another concern raised was the disparity in fish consumption. While fish is a major export product, consumption among fishing communities remains low.
“The consumption rate of fish in the fishing communities is zero, while in cities it is high because fishermen prefer to sell their catch to afford basic necessities since production is low,” said Margaret Nakato, Coordinator of the Women Development Trust.
FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda’s fisheries sector, recognising the NPOA-SSF as a key step toward sustainable fisheries management.
“Implementing your NPOA-SSF and working together to secure sustainable small-scale fisheries contributes directly to addressing four betters—better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life for all—leaving no one behind,” said Mele Ikatonga Tauati, an FAO Fisheries Officer.
She further assured stakeholders that FAO will continue to support Uganda’s efforts to enhance the sector’s sustainability and economic contribution.
With 15 million Ugandans relying on fish for nutrition and 3.2 million employed in the sector, stakeholders are optimistic that effective implementation of the NPOA-SSF will ensure sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and economic growth.