Kisumu
  31/08/07
 
AGA KHAN PROMOTES FISH FARMING IN UGANDA.

By Leo Odera Omolo

The Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers, a brainchild of H.H the Aga Khan is the best producer of quality nets in East Africa. This particular enterprise is also an asset to fish farmers in Uganda and the entire East African region.

His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the 20 million Ismalia Muslims community has sunk millions of shillings into poor region of the world, often into businesses as basic as making fishnets.

UFM is now producing 448,408 nets annually. ‘’Our nets are superior. We are the only company that provides dyed nets in the region,’’ said Mr. Nitin Suverna, the general manager of UFM.

"With the growing fish farming in the country, the nets produced by UFM come in handy", he added.

Mr. Surverna says, even with stiff competition from cheap imported nets from China, the company still commands a big market share in the region.

Funded by His Highness the Aga Khan, who is also the chairman of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, the UFM is ISO certified and exports his nets to Kenya and Tanzania.

It has a workforce of 215, of which 114 of these are women.

The objective of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development is to have businesses that are self-sustenance and Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers, established in 1964 has lived up to this objective.

Although the price of UFM nets is somehow higher compared to those cheaply imported from China, their demand is still high. The company defends the high prices, arguing they cannot comprise quality. The company believes in empowering the marginalized in society, especially women.

‘’We have women managers and supervisors. Many of these have been with the company for decades, ‘’ says one of the longest serving employees.

This writer was among the few journalists and correspondents who accompanied His Highness the Aga Khan during recent week long visit to Uganda.

Since its inception, the UFM has produced approximately 9.1 million nets. There has been an increase in the turn over and production in the last three years.

UFM was recently approached by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to be a partner in its own initiative to encourage fish farming: the firm produced the first nets for the orientation programme. The company has also succeeded in its corporate social responsibility. It provides nutritional meals on duty and a dispensary for minor ailment of its employees and their dependants.

In order to give back to the community from which the company draws sustenance, the firm provides medical check ups and disaster relief at landing sites.

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development looks for synergy between its business and philanthropic activities. UFM represent unglamorous enterprises that are engines of employment in the country.

Uganda is today the home to some of the Aga Khan Business enterprises. He owns the country’s largest pharmaceutical company, a tannery and insurance company, besides active participation in the multi billion dealer Rujagali Hydro Electric Power Plant.

Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com