Willy Katumwa

In Uganda’s growing aquaculture industry, one challenge remains constant—how to feed fish efficiently while minimizing waste. For Willy Katumwa, an engineer, innovator, and lifelong fish farmer, the answer lies at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and precision farming.
As Director of Twave Limited, Willy leads an ambitious aquaculture technology company developing the Automated Solar Fish Feeder, an innovation designed to feed fish according to their appetite rather than a fixed schedule. The device optimizes feed use, prevents overfeeding, and promotes better water quality—saving farmers costs while boosting productivity.
“Feed accounts for up to 70% of production costs in aquaculture,” Willy explains. “If we can manage that efficiently, we secure farmers’ profits and contribute to sustainable fish farming.”
Willy’s passion for fish farming began in childhood, growing up near small ponds that sparked his curiosity about how fish behaved during feeding. Years later, armed with two degrees from Makerere University—including a Master’s in Innovation and Industrial Development—he turned that childhood fascination into practical invention.
In 2020, his academic research laid the groundwork for the Automated Solar Fish Feeder, a device that combines solar energy and sensor technology to respond dynamically to fish feeding behavior. “It started as a simple concept drawn from observing farmers waste feed,” he says. “But it became a mission to build smarter, sustainable systems that farmers could afford.”
The journey has not been without challenges. But with determination, extensive farmer feedback, and continuous refinement, Twave Limited has brought the technology closer to commercial readiness—transforming what was once a prototype into a viable product ready for market.
Under Willy’s leadership, Twave Limited has grown into a small but impactful enterprise of five team members, including engineers, interns, and aquaculture specialists. The company has already secured USD 9,000 in grant funding to advance the Feeder from prototype to minimum viable product (MVP), marking a crucial step toward scale.
Twave has also been recognized nationally for its innovation. A successful pilot with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) confirmed the technology’s efficiency and potential for large-scale adoption. Through partnerships with Heifer International, JICA Uganda, Planex Aquaculture, and Kojja Mixed Farmers Uganda, Twave has trained over 200 farmers and 40 interns, building technical capacity and awareness of sustainable aquaculture practices.
“Our innovation is not just about the machine,” Willy notes. “It’s about enabling people—farmers, youth, and students—to build better aquaculture systems together.”
As Willy looks to the future, his ambitions for Twave Limited are both bold and practical. The company is developing a scalable production model with a goal of selling 1,000 units within three years and expanding into East African markets through partnerships and localized manufacturing.
To make the technology accessible to small-scale farmers, Twave is exploring innovative financing options, including lease-to-own and cooperative purchasing models. By democratizing access to automation, Willy hopes to unlock higher incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance food security.
For Willy, innovation is not just about gadgets—it’s about reshaping livelihoods and protecting the environment. “When fish farmers waste less feed, they save money, the water stays cleaner, and the ecosystem stays balanced,” he says. “That’s the kind of technology Africa needs—solutions that work with nature, not against it.”
Through Twave Limited, Katumwa Willy is proving that with creativity, perseverance, and purpose, young African innovators can drive the next wave of sustainable aquaculture—one smart fish feeder at a time.