By John Nzinjah

FISH breeding spots on lakes George and Edward in the western rift valley are facing extinction due to illegal fishing fuelled by corruption.

Officials in the Kasese district fisheries department are aware of the illegal practices but are doing nothing, according to the chairperson of the Beach Management Unit at Kayanzi landing site on Lake Edward, Ashraf Makundo.

“The illegal fishermen bribe the fishing assistants to allow them fish in the breeding spots,” he said.

Makundo said the unit had on several occasions arrested the encroachers and reported them to the fisheries authorities, but no action had been taken.

In a report, Makundo expressed fear that the breeding spots could soon be depleted if no action is taken against illegal fishing.

The report was presented in a meeting attended by beach management units and wetland management committees in Kaseses town.

The meeting aimed at equipping the participants with skills in planning, budgeting and reporting on natural resource issues.

According to Makundo, the impounding of immature fish and rounding up of the culprits stopped three years ago following the death of Kana Mpagga, who was the district fisheries officer.

He said since Lake Edward is shared by Uganda and the DR Congo, it is difficult to ascertain who exactly has been encroaching on the breeding areas.

Mugume urged the participants to mobilise residents to participate in the monitoring and conservation of the natural resources.

Responding to the queries, the assistant district environment officer, Evalyn Mugume, said the district fisheries office had no vehicle, adding that it was difficult to curb illegal fishing without transport.

Francis Muhindo from the Rights Equity Protected Areas Project said corruption was responsible for the failure of government programmes.

Corruption has killed many government programmes in the sectors of health, agriculture, education and road construction, he said.

The participants agreed with Muhindo that government buildings that were constructed during the colonial times in the district still stood strong, unlike those built last year, especially schools and health centers.