End last week, Fish Processors and Exporters under their umbrella Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association proposed toParliament to impose a ban on the local and regional sale and consumption of Nile Perch, ‘Empuuta’.
The association said that Nile Perch earns Uganda huge amounts of money in exports and so it should be preserved for the European Market only.
The proposals have since faced a public backlash with many accusing leaders of taking Ugandans for granted.
The reactions have ‘forced’ the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa to come out and address the matter.
“I have taken time to read social media comments on Nile perch EXPORT Vs Domestic consumption. Currently, our Consumption is 72% & export is at 28%.
Our aim is to consume 80% and Export 20% by 2030,” says Adoa.
She says the proposals should not cause alarm.
Data from the Bank of Uganda indicates that in the period between January and July 2020, Uganda exported 11,402 tonnes of fish worth $72.97m (Shs268b). However, this was a decline of 46 percent from the 17,541 tonnes worth $106.53m (Shs392b) that Uganda had exported in the period last year.
Tilapia ‘Engege’ and Nile perch are the commonest types of fish in Uganda.