The Aquaculture Community Initiative in Kyoga (ACIK)
aboutus
ACIK is an enterprise owned and operated by local people for the benefit of local people as well as the region. It was initiated by a team of seven prominent local residents who have experience in different parts of the fish value chain.
ACIK is based on the values that drive our community.
Meet the Team
Managing Director: Edmond Okello
Edmond was born, grew up, and worked as a fisherman at the Okile landing. He holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Gulu University, a postgraduate Diploma in Practical Agriculture from Agro-Studies, Kfar Silver Agricultural School, Israel, and a Certificate in Business Management from the Tony Elumelu Foundation (https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/). He is currently enrolled in the M.Sc. program in Agribusiness Development at Gulu University where he did his internship with Capable, one of our strategic partners.
Production and Training Director: Rashid Asiimwe
Rashid holds a B.Sc. in Aquaculture and Marine Management from Makerere University, Uganda and a Diploma in Fisheries Management and Technology.. He is the CEO of AA Fisheries and Aquaculture Consultancy and a nationally recognized expert in aquaculture with experience in fish farm operations, bio-filtration, and water quality management for fresh aquaculture.
Wilfred Etenu
The former Chairman of the Beach Management Unit (BMU) in Lake Kyoga, is also a cultural leader of the local area with extensive experience in fishing from an early age.
Robert Ongwara
He has been fishing for livelihood since his dropping out of high school and is very committed to working with the fishing community.
Janet Aryekot
A native of the region, is a fish marketer with twenty years of practical expertise in smoking, salting and sun-drying, and marketing fish.
Joyce Akullo
A member of the Beach Management Unit and has twenty years of practical experience smoking, salting, sun-drying, and marketing fish.
Wilfred Kezzala
He has also been fishing since dropping out of school in lower primary.
Eliba James
He has also been fishing since dropping out of school in lower primary.
Eselu Peter Anthony
A local, has fished since leaving lower primary school.
Advisor: Prof. Victor J. Friedman
He is advisor to the ACIK team in developing the concept and carrying out the entrepreneurial process. Prof. Friedman was the founder of the Action Research Center for Social Justice, Israel, and is an internationally known expert in social entrepreneurship and action research. Prof. Friedman holds an Ed.D. in Counseling, Consulting, and Community Psychology from Harvard University.