Animal and fisheries sector is one of the Uganda’s important growth sectors contributing about US$ 290 million to the GDP by animals. The animals are characterized into cattle, goats, pigs, sheep and poultry. 71% of Ugandan’s household are engaged in livestock rearing. Fisheries in Uganda are the second exchange earner for the country. The investment in fisheries is estimated at US$ 200 million with employment of over 700,000 people.
Regulatory Framework
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries
The ministry is responsible for formulating, reviewing and implementing national policies, plans, strategies, regulations and standards and enforces laws, regulations and standards along the value chain of crops, livestock and fisheries.
National veterinary and drug policy 1995
The policy ensures access to quality veterinary drugs by stakeholders for sustainable animal health and production, promote and ensure the availability and use of quality veterinary drugs in a professional manner
Dairy Development Authority (DDA)
DDA is to provide proper coordination and efficient implementation of all government policies which are designed to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in the production of milk in Uganda by promoting production and competition in the dairy industry and monitoring the market for milk and dairy products.
Its functions are to:
- Raise incomes and standards of living of small scale dairy farmers
- Achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in milk and dairy products
- Promote increased dairy productivity using cost-effective technology and breeding policy
- Establish liberal but harmonised dairy markets
- Regulate and control the market for milk and dairy products
Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association (UFPEA)
UFPEA provides business development services to the fisheries and through the association, efforts are made to advocate for policies that favour the fish sub sector.
Fisheries Development and Management Policy
The current development policy of the Government with respect to food production is to ensure the supply of adequate and balanced food through the attainment of self-sufficiency and the reduction of post-harvest losses. In the case of fisheries, this includes;
- Maximisation of fish production to increase animal protein production and per capita consumption
- Reduction of post-harvest losses
- Maximisation of net earnings from fisheries over and above what it costs society to produce
Minimum Size Regulations
The Act as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 1981 sets out minimum legal size at which fish are to be taken in accordance with Section 35 of the Act. But the current rules refer to Nile Tilapia and Nile Perch.
Regulations on Fish Processing and Fish Trade
Restriction on fish processing and marketing as specified in Section 8 of the Act is being further strengthened to take into account fish product standards which should include legal authority to certify the quality of fish products destined to both local and export consumer markets.
The information on the sector is organised as follows;