KIYINDI, UGANDA – July 2025 – The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Hon. Veronica Nduva, officially closed a high-impact regional workshop on Skills Development for the Private Sector in Fish Processing Technologies at the Kiyindi fish landing site, marking a significant step in empowering youth and women across the Lake Victoria basin.
Hon. Nduva was warmly welcomed by the Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), Mr. Tom Mukasa Bukenya, alongside representatives, trainers from EAC Partner States, and youth and women representatives from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
In her closing remarks, the Secretary General emphasized the immense potential of the region’s youth and women in transforming the fisheries and aquaculture sector, a vital pillar of livelihood, food security, and economic growth in the EAC.
“Today’s practical session is not just about fish processing,” Hon. Nduva remarked. “It is about empowerment, turning potential into productivity and transformation.”
Acknowledging the ongoing challenges of post-harvest losses and outdated processing techniques, the Secretary General commended the support and the LVFO’s efforts to install three solar dryers—one each in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—to enhance post-harvest handling and reduce spoilage.
“We are grateful for the support,” she noted. “But the EAC will continue to mobilize resources to improve working conditions for women and youth in our fishing communities.”
The training, which focused on practical skills such as handling, processing, packaging, branding, and marketing, placed special emphasis on silver fish—commonly known as Mukene, Dagaa, or Omena—a nutritious staple critical to food and nutrition security in the region, particularly for children and lactating mothers.
In addition, Hon. Nduva spotlighted the growing economic potential of fish maw, a high-value product generating over USD 90 million annually in the EAC. However, she expressed concern over the lack of organization within the fish maw value chain and called for reforms to maximize its benefits.
“This training positions you not merely as beneficiaries,” she told the participants, “but as drivers of change—ready to revolutionize fish processing, create employment, and promote regional trade.”
She reaffirmed EAC’s commitment to building an inclusive and dynamic private sector in fisheries and aquaculture, placing women and youth at the center of transformation.
“We want a sector where women are no longer on the margins but at the heart of decision-making, and where our young people are not job seekers but job creators,” she declared.
The Secretary General also praised LVFO for its recent coordinated joint operations with Partner States around Lake Victoria, which successfully addressed illegalities in the fisheries sector, improved awareness, and promoted sustainability.
“Let us put more effort into ensuring the sustainability of Lake Victoria’s fisheries,” she urged, “so they continue to provide employment, income, and food security for current and future generations.”
Hon. Nduva concluded by encouraging all participants to build on the momentum of the workshop, develop new partnerships, and lead innovations in the Blue Economy.
“Let this workshop mark the beginning of new skills, stronger livelihoods, and a united path forward.”
ONE PEOPLE. ONE DESTINY.
