Serere District’s fish farmers and fishermen won praise and recognition during this year’s World Aquaculture Safari Conference, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, showcasing their success stories and practical experiences in aquaculture before an international audience of over 1,000 delegates from 58 countries.
Among the standout participants from the 67 who had gone for the conference were former police officer turned fish farmer Florence Adongo, and Benjamin Alito, the Chief Executive Officer of the MIDO Organization, both of whom demonstrated remarkable growth in their aquaculture enterprises and inspired fellow farmers with their testimonies.
During their presentations, Adongo and Alito thanked Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) for offering local farmers a platform to showcase their achievements and learn from global best practices.
“This conference has given us an opportunity to share our experiences, to learn new methods and connect with other fish farmers and investors,” Adongo said.
“We appreciate the Ministry for recognizing our efforts and for supporting the development of aquaculture in Uganda.”
Benjamin Alito also emphasized the value of such a forum, saying it strengthens farmers’ voices and demonstrates the importance of investing in modern fish farming techniques.
“Events like these are critical for knowledge exchange and building market opportunities,” he said.
“Our communities in Serere depend on fisheries for food and income. This exposure will help us improve quality, production, and sustainability.”
The four-day World Aquaculture Safari Conference, which began on June 24 and concludes today, June 27, 2025, was organized by the World Aquaculture Society in partnership with the Government of Uganda and development agencies such as the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and the TRUEFISH project.
It is only the second time the event has been hosted on African soil, after South Africa.
This year’s theme focused on unlocking Africa’s aquaculture potential, building resilient food systems, and promoting inclusive growth across the fisheries value chain.
In her keynote remarks during the conference, Uganda’s State Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, applauded local farmers like those from Serere for attending in large numbers and making Uganda’s hosting of the event a success.
She urged them to seize opportunities in the growing aquaculture value chain and praised the private sector for their early investments.
“As I conclude, I take this opportunity to thank the World Aquaculture Society for choosing Uganda to host this forum,” Minister Adoa said.
“I also thank LVFO and the TRUEFISH project for sponsorship and organization, as well as other development partners and actors that have supported the event.”
She noted that Uganda’s fisheries sector has seen major reforms and is positioned to attract investment thanks to its vast water resources, favorable climate, and supportive policies.
“I wish to invite entrepreneurs to take advantage of the conducive policy environment to set up ventures within the aquaculture value chain,” Adoa said.
“I am happy to welcome pioneer investors such as Yalelo, De Heus, IG Invest, and others who are already involved in fish production, feed processing, and other opportunities.”
However, the Minister also stressed that for Africa to fully benefit from aquaculture, countries must deepen cooperation in research, innovation, and trade.
“I also appeal for greater collaboration and synergies, both within the global and regional blocs, in the fields of scientific research, development, and innovation,” she urged.
“We should not be fragmented. We should promote intra-African and global trade to ensure that the countries that have greater competitive advantage in aquaculture use that opportunity to supply and feed the underserved areas.”
Participants from Serere District said they left the conference inspired to improve their production practices and strengthen cooperatives to access markets more effectively.
Many expressed interest in adopting cage farming and modern hatchery management after learning from demonstrations at the event.
Organizers hailed the success of the conference, saying it had helped foster new partnerships, business deals, and policy dialogue aimed at boosting Africa’s blue economy.
As the curtains fall on this year’s World Aquaculture Safari Conference, the voices of Uganda’s local fish farmers, like those from Serere, have been amplified, signaling a new era of opportunity for rural communities, investors, and policy makers committed to sustainable and inclusive aquaculture development.
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