Fishing in Rwanda is experiencing unprecedented growth, largely driven by British investor Kamran Ahmad, CEO of Kivu Choice, a tilapia production firm. Since taking over the Gisagara District-based Kigembe fish hatchery from the government in 2022, the company has boosted its annual fingerling production from one million to 60 million—a sixty-fold increase. Fingerlings are young fish the size of a finger that are used in production of fish ready for consumption. Ahmad provided the update during a visit to the facility on September 23, led by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva. The hatchery’s revival marks a major leap for Rwanda’s aquaculture sector, particularly in the production of quality fingerlings that support both domestic consumption and exports. ALSO READ: Kivu Choice: Rwanda-based firm is Africa’s fastest-growing fish farm According to Solange Uwituze, Acting Director General of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Kivu Choice is now the country’s largest cage fish farming operator, with a significant impact on both production and employment. The company uses part of the fingerlings for its operations on Lake Kivu and supplies others to local farmers, helping raise Rwanda’s fish production – in terms of fish farming not capture fisheries – from 3,900 tonnes annually to 10,000 tonnes currently. When he arrived, Rwanda’s fish farming production stood at 3,900 tonnes per year. Today, that figure has grown to 10,000 tonnes annually, with his company alone contributing 5,000 tonnes. By 2027, he plans to scale up to 30,000 tonnes – nearly half of the national aquaculture target set under the fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5). He is therefore a key investor in this sector. Beyond production, the company is also expanding its retail footprint, currently operating 20 fish shops across the country, Uwituze pointed out, adding that these outlets not only improve access to affordable fish but also create jobs for young people. The firm plans to increase the number of shops to 60 by 2029. Kivu Choice is also investing in fish powder production to support child nutrition initiatives in Early Childhood Development centres and primary schools. The role of Kigembe hatchery and public private partnership Ahmad said that the 5,000 tonnes of fish that the country is able to produce per year corresponds to around 10 million fish meals annually and it is scaling up to 30,000 tonnes of fish per year, which is roughly 60 million fish meals per year over the next two years. “It's enabled by Kigembe [fish hatchery]. The reason why we've been able to grow so quickly is through this private-public partnership,” he said. The Kigembe facility, which previously produced around one million baby fish per year, now yields 60 million – and aims to double that to 120 million by the end of next year. The hatchery employs technology to maximise hatch rates, with controlled environments boosting success rates from 10 per cent in traditional ponds to up to 90 per cent in incubators. So far, the company has invested approximately $10 million in its Rwandan operations – $1 million in Kigembe and $9 million in Lake Kivu facilities – and plans to invest $20 million more over the next two years. Ahmad said the goal is not only profitability but also social impact, particularly addressing malnutrition by increasing access to affordable fish protein. Although Rwanda’s total fish production currently stands at about 52,000 tonnes per year as pr data from RAB, demand continues to outpace supply. In 2024 alone, the country imported 70,000 tonnes of frozen fish (excluding fillets), valued at over $92 million—up 31 per cent from the previous year. While acknowledging the importance of exports, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva urged Kivu Choice to prioritise the local market to help meet domestic protein needs. Ahmad appreciated the observation, reaffirming the company's commitment to social impact and long-term investment in Rwanda’s aquaculture sector. “We're a for-profit business, but we're social impact-orientated, too,” he said, adding “our primary focus is tackling stunting,” he said. With ambitious plans underway, he said that Kivu Choice aims to become one of the world’s top three tilapia producers, rivalling leading farms in Asia, Latin America, and Kenya, where its sister company, Victory Farms, operates. Under PSTA5, Rwanda targets to reach a production to 77,700 tonnes of fish by 2029.
