By KT Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has said that he will soon summon leaders of fishing communities to discuss the influx of people on the Lakes.
In 2011, the Ministry of Fisheries through the amended fish act 2010 re-centralized issuing of licenses. The ministry set 100,000 shillings as annual license fee for small boats and 200,000 for large scale fishing boats.
The Ministry of Fisheries also directed fishermen to acquire boats with an interior overall length of twenty-eight feet, manufactured by only groups sourced by the Fisheries Protection Unit and the District Fisheries Officer, before they were allowed to operate.
While speaking to residents of Nakasongola district at Wabinyonyi playground in during at the end of his Parish Development Model tour , President Yoweri Museveni explained that licensing was intended to regulate fishing activities and conserve Lakes in the country for all Ugandans including not living near them.
However Museveni noted that hundreds of people including those from Democratic Republic Of Congo,Kenya have flocked the lakes in Uganda threatening their conservation.
Museveni said that as a result, he has decided to call a meeting soon with leaders of fishing across major lakes to discuss who should be fishing on Lakes and how to protect the lakes for all Ugandans.
Museveni also revealed that he intends to set up a separate fund for the fishermen after learning the PDM funds may not be enough for them to boost thier business.
Museveni’s promise for a separate fund stemmed from a request from fishermen led by Abdul Kadir Masaya, the Chairperson of Kyoga Boat Owners Association, who told them the costs of engines and recognised fishing boats were high for ordinary fishermen.
Museveni’s concerns on influx of fishermen on lakes has come at time when the government has failed to stamp out illegal fishing despite deployment of Fisheries Protection Unit.
Several fishermen and soldiers have died during operations to curb illegal fishing.
According to the 2023 Directorate of Fisheries report,76% of fishing vessels and fishermen on Uganda’s lakes are unlicensed whereas 25% of fishing gears are illegal-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
