By Jeff Lule

THE Government is to support districts in the fight against illegal fishing following the failure of Beach Management Units, a senior fisheries official has said.

Rhoda Tumwebaze, the assistant commissioner for fisheries regulations in the Ministry of Agriculture, said some of the units had failed to protect the lakes as mandated.

“The units are supposed to protect the lake from illegalities. But in some places it is the opposite. We have decided to enhance our enforcement in the districts to fight the culprits,” Tumwebaze said.

She made the remarks during a meeting with district fisheries officers from eastern Uganda, while reviewing a quarterly progressive report for Lake Kyoga at Tourist Hotel in Jinja on Monday.

Tumwebaze said the units would work under the supervision of fisheries officers to meet the ministry’s obligation.

The officers blamed some unit authorities for conniving with the culprits to use illegal fishing methods, and the Police for releasing suspects.