Njeru, Buikwe: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday commissioned the De Heus Animal Nutrition Fish Feed Factory in Njeru, a multi-billion-shilling facility expected to transform Uganda’s aquaculture sector and boost regional food security.
The state-of-the-art factory, established by Dutch investors De Heus Animal Nutrition, will produce up to 100,000 metric tons of high-quality fish feed annually, reducing dependence on imports and ensuring reliable access for fish farmers across East Africa.
Speaking after the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni commended the private sector-led investment as a timely solution to the country’s fish feed challenges.
“Today, I officially commissioned the De Heus Fish Feed Factory in Njeru, Buikwe District. This development follows my recent PDM tour which included fish farming. I addressed the challenge of fish feed availability with the National Enterprise Corporation, and I am happy to see this solution through private sector investment from the Netherlands,” Museveni said.
He urged Ugandan farmers to supply the factory with quality raw materials such as maize, sunflower, and soybeans, suggesting the formation of an association for soybean growers.
The President also hailed the initiative to shift farmers from swamp rice cultivation to fish farming as a move that protects water resources while expanding income opportunities.
De Heus Board Chairman Co de Heus said the investment represents the company’s long-term vision for Africa. “The new facility will enhance the efficiency and quality of the fish feed supply chain while supporting local crop farmers by sourcing ingredients like maize, cassava, and soybeans,” he said.
Bon Tjeenk-Willink, Managing Director of De Heus Uganda, revealed that the factory will directly support 10,000 jobs on fish farms and benefit 15,000 smallholder crop farmers. “By transforming local crops into high-quality fish feed and fish, we are delivering the vision set forth by the Government of Uganda,” he noted.
Built with sustainability in mind, the factory features a biomass boiler to reduce fossil fuel use and prioritizes the use of locally sourced raw materials, in line with Uganda’s industrialization and import substitution goals.
Since entering the Ugandan market in 2015, De Heus has supported livestock and aquaculture farmers with animal nutrition expertise, positioning itself as a key partner in the country’s drive for agricultural modernization.
The inauguration was attended by government officials, ambassadors, local leaders, and farmers—underscoring the strategic importance of aquaculture to Uganda’s economy and food security.
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