RAD Hubs

Enabling smallholders to succeed

What is RAD?

Rural Aquaculture Development (RAD) is a value-chain-based aquaculture model in East Africa that uses a for-profit approach to support networks of local farmers. Founded in 2020 by Tim Messeder and Pauson Mpabukire, RAD addresses the region's fish consumption deficit; highlighted by the FAO as up to 75% below the global average by scaling local production.

Its first operational hub, piloted in Uganda's landlocked Rukungiri district, reached its first commercial fish sale in early 2022, driving growth and local job creation. RAD focuses on optimising production and producing affordable, smaller tilapia. Supported by strategic partnerships with ThinkAqua, Gatsby Africa, and the Energy Saving Trust, RAD cultivates and markets its own fish while fostering clusters of small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) farms for regional replication.

RAD Rukungiri - Hub Fish Farm

RADs Vision

To build a commercial ecosystem that directly creates jobs and strengthens local livelihoods

Localised Community Level Impact

  • Operating as a localised hub, RAD builds a commercial ecosystem that directly creates jobs and strengthens local livelihoods. By establishing clusters of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and offering a complete suite of aquaculture services, RAD enables local farmers to start, maintain, and scale profitable fish farming businesses.

  • RAD drives local economic growth by optimising production processes and establishing reliable supply chains for affordable, smaller tilapia. Achieving commercial sales establishes a stable local market, giving farmers reliable access to inputs, services and customers across East Africa.

  • By scaling sustainable pond-based aquaculture and introducing efficient production practices, RAD alleviates pressure on wild fish stocks in East African lakes and rivers. Localised, farmed protein reduces the environmental footprint associated with importing food or overexploiting natural aquatic ecosystems.

  • RAD directly addresses East Africa's critical fish consumption deficit—which sits up to 75% below the global average according to the FAO—by increasing the availability of affordable, nutrient-dense protein in landlocked and underserved communities like Rukungiri.

RAD Rukungiri - Pilot Hub

Fulfilling the vision

Applying all we’ve learned from establishing Hub 1 and rolling out our playbook across East Africa

How RAD Can Fulfil This Vision

  • Establishing centralised "Hubs" that act as one-stop shops providing nearby small- and medium-scale farmers with reliable access to inputs, technical expertise, processing and direct market access.

  • By lifting the extensively tested operational playbook from Hub 1 Rukungiri, we can streamline data and lessons learned from this pilot hub to launch streamlined, lower-risk expansions across other parts of Uganda first followed by wider East African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

  • Collaborating with technical, financial, and sustainability partners (such as ThinkAqua, Cofad, Gatsby Africa and Energy Saving Trust) we can offer enhanced service offerings, integrate clean technologies and secure regional scaling support.

  • Creating self-sustaining networks of local aquaculture SMEs to provide the best chance of having long-term financial independence and continuous reinvestment in the region.

RAD Rukungiri - Pilot Hub

What are RAD core values

Sustainability, Partnership, Integrity, and Innovation

RAD Core Values - Unpacked

  • We prioritise environmentally sound aquaculture practices that protect natural ecosystems while building lasting economic opportunity.

  • We believe local communities will thrive when farmers are supported with the tools, knowledge and commercial networks needed to build self-sustaining businesses.

  • We combine a for-profit business model with social impact, ensuring our operations are financially viable, repeatable and built for long-term growth.

  • From optimising pond production to partnering with technical experts, we continuously refine our methods to deliver high-quality, affordable protein where it is needed most.

RAD Rukungiri

Enabling smallholders to succeed

Rukungiri

RAD Rukungiri - Pilot Hub

Rukungiri is RAD’s first hub (and pilot hub) situated in the South Eastern region of Uganda. This pilot hub was founded in 2020, establishing its aquaculture venture through pond construction and production. Achieving its first fish sale in early 2022 marked a significant milestone, propelling growth and job creation. Since 2020 RAD Rukungiri has gone on to scale into a fully functioning RAD hub serving its local community in a number of ways.

This hub has fully functioning: 

  • BSF Production Facility

  • Production ponds

  • Hatchery Site Ponds

  • Multiple market selling access points