The Chairperson of Kenya’s Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Senator David Wakoli Wafula, has called for stronger regional collaboration in the management of shared water resources between Kenya and Uganda to ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development.
Senator Wakoli made the remarks during an official visit to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) on Thursday, where his delegation toured the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) Aquaculture Centre at Kajjansi. The visit aimed to strengthen cross-border cooperation in research, innovation, and policy formulation within the agricultural sector.
The Senator noted that fishing remains a lucrative enterprise for both Kenya and Uganda but faces increasing challenges such as water pollution and poor resource management. He said there was a growing need for the two countries to work together to sustainably manage shared water bodies like Lake Victoria.
He emphasized that Kenya had made progress in fisheries governance through the transformation of beach management units into cooperatives, which has empowered fishermen to operate competitively while promoting responsible fishing practices. The county governments, he added, have continued to support these cooperatives to become self-reliant by investing in cage farming and financing the acquisition of small fishing boats.
Senator Wakoli revealed that three weeks prior to the Uganda visit, his committee had held extensive consultations with local leaders, fishermen, and women in Busia County, focusing on the challenges affecting the sector. He noted that such engagements provided valuable insights that could inform joint action between the two countries.
We are here to listen and share experiences on what our neighbours are doing that we might not be doing, and what we are doing that you may not,
Senator David Wakoli Wafula
adding that collaboration would ensure that both countries learn from each other and improve together for the benefit of their people.
The Senator expressed admiration for Uganda’s advancements in fisheries research and innovation, saying he was particularly impressed by the quality of facilities and the youthful workforce at NaFIRRI. He cited the NARO-invented fish smoking kiln and fish feed technologies as examples of practical innovations that could be replicated in Kenya.
“I have been visiting facilities in Kenya but I am impressed by the capacity here in Uganda,” he said. “Your labs are very good, and the fish kiln is a great and impressive innovation. I will tell my business people to start buying fish feeds from Uganda and also bring farmers for training here.”
He reaffirmed Kenya’s readiness to fast-track bilateral discussions and agreements that would strengthen agricultural trade and knowledge exchange between the two countries, noting that the visit was not merely academic but part of efforts to transform the agricultural sector and ensure that public investments deliver value for money.
During the visit, Dr. Winnie Nalukenge Nkalubo, the Director of Research at NaFIRRI, gave an overview of Uganda’s fisheries and aquaculture landscape. She explained that NaFIRRI was established in 1947 as the East African Fisheries Organisation (EAFO), making it the birthplace of fisheries research in East Africa. Today, the institute is recognized by the African Union as a Centre of Excellence in Research and Training in Aquaculture, Inland Capture Fisheries, and the impacts of climate change on fisheries.
According to Dr. Nalukenge, Uganda’s annual fish production stands at 650,000 tonnes, with capture fisheries contributing 81.5% and aquaculture accounting for 18.5%. The fisheries sector generates approximately UGX 442 billion in annual revenue and earns about USD 177 million in export income, while employing around 1.5 million Ugandans.
She outlined several innovations spearheaded by NARO to enhance productivity and sustainability in the sector. These include the development of faster-growing Nile tilapia strains, improved African catfish broodstock, and the establishment of the Masese Fish Aquapark in Jinja, which has successfully transformed fishermen into commercial fish farmers with an annual production of 60 tonnes of fish valued at UGX 500 million.
Other innovations include the development of cost-effective, insect-based floating fish feeds, bio-based products to control fish diseases, and feed formulas derived from local crop varieties. NARO has also invested in digital technologies such as the Freshwater Biodiversity Portal for Uganda and the electronic Catch Assessment Survey (e-CAS) tool to enhance data management and decision-making in fisheries.
Dr. Nalukenge said these efforts are aligned with Uganda’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2018), whose goal is to increase national fish production to 1.7 million tonnes annually, contributing to food security, nutrition, and economic growth.
Representing the NARO Director General, Dr. Stevens Kisaka, Director of Corporate Services, commended the Kenyan delegation for its commitment to regional collaboration. He highlighted NARO’s ongoing partnerships with Kenyan institutions, including the recent importation of 100 parent stock dairy cows from Kenya to support the establishment of Uganda’s National Dairy Centre of Excellence in Mbarara.
Dr. Kisaka noted that many of the challenges affecting agriculture and fisheries transcend national boundaries, calling for joint planning, coordinated research, and shared strategies to manage them. “The problems and challenges we face in agriculture don’t know borders,” he said. “That necessitates joint planning and management of those challenges.”
It was agreed during the meeting to engage through structured platforms to deepen institutional linkages, strengthen research collaboration, and enhance trade relations in agriculture and fisheries to bring tangible benefits for communities in both Uganda and Kenya.
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