The new facility will produce up to 100,000 metric tons of fish feed annually.
De Heus
The Dutch feed company, De Heus Animal Nutrition, has confirmed the opening of a new fish feed factory in Njeru, located in the Buikwe district in central Uganda. This marks a significant milestone in the history of East African aquaculture.
The new facility will produce up to 100,000 metric tons of fish feed annually, significantly reducing dependence on imports and improving access to feed for fish farmers.
"The new facility will not only enhance the efficiency and quality of the fish feed supply chain but will also support local farmers by sourcing ingredients such as maize, cassava, and soybeans," said Co de Heus, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The factory will feature a biomass boiler to minimize the use of fossil fuels and will focus on prioritizing local ingredients. In addition, it will support 10,000 jobs on fish farms and purchase crops from approximately 15,000 smallholder farmers.
"By transforming local crops into high-quality fish feed, we are supporting a shift from imports to value-added production, which aligns with the vision set by the Government of Uganda," said Bon Tjeenk-Willink, Managing Director of De Heus Uganda.
De Heus entered the Ugandan market in 2015 to promote farmer profitability and regional food security. Additionally, the company operates in Asia and, in 2024, unveiled a new shrimp feed mill in the Co Chien Industrial Zone, Vinh Long Province, Vietnam.