Minister bans fishing on 3 landing sites

By Tom Gwebayanga

BUYENDE - State minister for fisheries Ruth Nankabirwa has closed three landing sites on Lake Kyoga in Buyende district due to illegal fishing.

The district fisheries officer, John Muwadi, said the minister in a June 17 letter to the resident district commissioner, Michael Mwanje, suspended fishing near the landing sites of Bukungu, Kyankoole and Kapyokolo in Kidera sub-county for one month.

“From July 1 to August 1, nobody will be allowed to fish,” Muwadi said on Wednesday.

Minister Nankabirwa said stakeholders, including the beach management units (BMUs) had failed the campaign against illegal fishing in Lake Kyoga.

Muwadi, who described the directive as appropriate, said it was long overdue. “Beach management units are toothless. Besides, we are always threatened and usually assaulted,” he said.

The affected sites employ more than 4,000 people with over 7,000 families, he pointed out.

The leader of the fisheries enforcement team of eastern Kyoga, Felix Isabirye, advised fishermen to look for alternative sources of livelihood, adding that whoever defies the ban will be prosecuted.

The chairman of Bukungu Fish Traders Association, Emma Kabenge, admitted that there was rampant illegal fishing, but expressed worry about the plight of people who depend on fishing for a living.

“We plan to meet the RDC and together with fisheries officers hunt for those who carry out illegal fishing so that the minister lifts the ban,” Kabenge said.