The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) team, led by Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, visited De Heus Uganda Ltd, a tilapia feed factory in Jinja, to understand its operations and explore opportunities for strengthening Uganda’s aquaculture sector.
The factory, officially launched by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on September 2, 2025, is the first of its kind in Uganda and is set to transform the country’s fish farming industry.
Bon Tjeenk Willink, Managing Director of De Heus Uganda makes a presentation
During the visit, Bon Tjeenk Willink, Managing Director of De Heus Uganda, outlined the company’s ambitious target of producing over one million tons of feed annually by 2035.
He shared four key reasons why Uganda was chosen for this investment:
- Readily available raw materials – Uganda grows soya, maize, and cassava, which are essential for fish feed production.
- Growing demand – With Uganda’s population rising, aquaculture demand could grow tenfold.
- Favorable conditions – Uganda’s large lakes, favorable temperatures, and good climate support aquaculture growth of up to 30% per year.
- Market expansion – If farmers scale up, the aquaculture market is expected to grow by 6.5% over the next decade.
The PACEID delegation toured the factory’s loading and offloading zones, warehouses, laboratories, and production areas, gaining firsthand insight into the processes from raw material intake to finished feed packaging.
The facility is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits for Uganda’s agricultural sector:
- Production capacity of 100,000 tons of feed per year.
- 7,000–10,000 jobs on farms across the country.
- Elimination of imported fish feeds, supporting import substitution.
- Greater contribution to sustainable food security.
De Heus Managing Director welcomes PACEID team. Ministry of Trade’s Emmanuel Mutahunga was present
Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo expressed excitement about the project, describing it as a turning point for Uganda’s food security and export competitiveness. He highlighted three major areas of impact:
- Feeds as the foundation of food security
“Countries that don’t produce animal feeds cannot sustainably increase production. Uganda must prepare for a future population of 100 million by ensuring reliable feed for livestock and fish. This is crucial for nutrition, food safety, and incomes.” - Building local expertise for global standards
Rwabwogo commended Ugandan professionals working at the factory as production experts and quality controllers. “Certification and standards have been a weakness for Uganda. With companies like De Heus, we can produce up to one million tons of fish and earn an additional USD 1.5 billion in foreign exchange.” - Opportunities for farmers and processors
Even at half capacity, De Heus consumes 11,000 MT of soya, 12,000 MT of maize, and 8,000 MT of cassava annually. At full capacity, this demand will double. “This is a great opportunity for farmers in Busoga to supply cassava and maize, while Acholi and other regions can provide grains. Farmers will now have stable, structured markets for their crops,” he noted.
Mr. Kizige, the Qualinty Control Lead explaining to PACEID team the processes of making fish feeds
The De Heus investment aligns with PACEID’s mission of supporting value addition, creating structured markets, and building an export-led economy. With aquaculture already identified as a high-potential export sector, the Jinja factory positions Uganda to compete strongly in regional and global fish markets.
Fish feeds packed in the warehouse
