Two retired head teachers in Kamusala Village, Serere District, are encouraging the local community to engage in fish farming as a means to combat poverty.
John Patrick Olupot and Francis Edepu, who retired in 2020 and 2022 respectively, have become advocates for fish farming due to its potential economic benefits. Mr. Olupot, the former head teacher of Ongangai Kidetok Primary School in Pingire County, had envisioned this initiative since 1999 but was unable to implement it until his retirement in 2020.
After raising awareness among interested residents, they formed a group called the Akurest Fish Farmers Group, with the aim of attracting government support to excavate fish ponds in the Kamusala swamp.
“We informed the Ministry of Agriculture about our interest in fish farming as a group, and in 2020, they provided an excavator that excavated over 20 fish ponds,” Mr. Olupot explained. Subsequently, they opened an account at Centenary Bank. With a well-structured plan in place, the ministry supplied thousands of Tilapia and catfish fingerlings, which will be ready for harvest in November.
Mr. Olupot anticipates a harvest of 18,000 catfish, 5,000 Tilapia fish, and 2,000 Miracarp, with an expected income of approximately Shs130 million from the six ponds.
Mr. Edepu mentioned that Ministry of Agriculture officials recently visited and requested them to prepare an additional 12 ponds, promising to provide fingerlings in December. They are currently mobilizing members to level the ponds and install a drainage system with pipes within the next two weeks.
“We are in the early stages, but next month, we anticipate substantial income for our village,” Mr. Edepu explained. He also noted that a well-stocked fish pond, depending on its size, can accommodate between 10,000 and 30,000 fingerlings, which, when properly fed, mature within six to ten months.
The retired head teacher emphasized the profitability of fish farming due to the high demand for fish. “We aim to enjoy our retirement while making meaningful contributions to our village, ensuring we don’t burden our children,” he stated.
Hellen Adoa, the State Minister for Fisheries, who assisted in initiating the project, highlighted that a well-managed fish pond can generate more than Shs40 million. She encouraged farmers to stock more than four ponds at intervals of one month each, as fish matures between six and ten months.
Ms. Adoa pointed out the ministry’s support for organized groups due to the expense of purchasing fingerlings. She also emphasized that fish remains a significant economic driver in Uganda, with $37.5 million worth of fish fillets exported in 2021, ranking fish as the ninth most exported product that year. Additionally, fish farming contributes about 15,000 tonnes of fish annually to the country’s production.
According to the National Agricultural Advisory Services, there are approximately 20,000 ponds throughout Uganda.
Table: Estimated Fish Harvest from Ponds
| Fish Type | Estimated Harvest |
|---|---|
| Catfish | 18,000 |
| Tilapia | 5,000 |
| Miracarp | 2,000 |
