The construction of a Sh714 million solar-powered drying facility is expected to significantly enhance the quality of silver fish from landing sites in Masaka District.
The government, in collaboration with the East African Community Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), has initiated the development of Masaka’s first modern solar drying facility at Ddimo Landing Site in Kyesiiga Sub-county. This project seeks to overcome long-standing challenges in post-harvest silver fish handling.
Boosting Fish Quality and Marketability
Masaka District Fisheries Officer George Ntale confirmed that construction will begin soon, with solar dryers installed in the coming weeks. The project, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to improve fish quality and boost incomes for local traders.
Currently, most silver fish traders—predominantly women—dry their catch on bare ground or wooden stands, exposing it to contamination from stones, sand, and bird droppings. This contamination has rendered the fish unsuitable for export markets. Ntale emphasized that traditional sun-drying is unreliable, especially during the rainy season, leading to significant losses for both traders and local revenue streams.
Community Engagement and Economic Impact
To ensure effective management of the facility, the district is mobilizing traders across landing sites to form associations that will oversee its operations.
Silver fish dealer Roses Nassaka welcomed the initiative, highlighting that poor post-harvest practices had caused a decline in income. She noted that foreign buyers, particularly from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, had stopped purchasing Ugandan silver fish due to contamination issues.
"We used to sell to foreign traders, but they left because our silver fish wasn’t clean. Now we only sell locally, mainly to poultry feed producers," Nassaka explained.
A Game-Changer for the Fishing Industry
Masaka District Chairperson Andrew Lukyamuzi Batemyetto hailed the solar drying facility as a transformational economic opportunity for local fishing communities.
He urged the government to further support fishermen with proper fishing gear, ensuring a consistent supply of silver fish so the drying facility can function at full capacity.
With this initiative, Masaka’s fishing industry is poised for sustainable growth, offering better market prospects and increased earnings for local traders.
