By Fred Mwasa and Sylidio Sebuharara
- Rwanda’s per capita fish consumption is 2.3 kilograms, far below its neighbours Burundi (3.6 kilograms), Tanzania (8 kilograms) and Uganda (10 kilograms). The global average of 20.5 kilograms per capita.
- Reason? Rwanda’s lakes and rivers are producing insufficient fish to satisfy the demand, despite a five-fold increase in annual fish production.
- From a year-long investigation, we report that the physiography of Rwanda’s lakes (how they were ‘born’), the country’s unfavourable climate and other man-made factors have prevented fish development.
- We also uncovered details on the impact of imports, especially from China, on Rwanda’s fish industry.
- From the experts we interviewed and research data reviewed, we propose what needs to be done to avail the much-needed fish.