The Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) says it has destroyed illegal fishing gear worth shillings 423 million at Kawongo landing site on Lake Kyoga (Kayunga district).

The unit was commanded by Lt. Col. Mercy Adah Tukahirwa, who said the destruction of seine nets, cast nets, mina filament nets, undersized hooks and gill nets was done in a bid to curb the mushrooming illegal fishing transactions and also streamline the profitable fisheries sector.

She made the revelation on a three-days ( April 5-7, 2024) guided sensitisation and familiarisation tour of fishing communities using Lake Kyoga as their source of livelihood.

Tukahirwa said the tour of Kawongo, Lwampanga (Nakasongola district) and Namasale (Amolatar district) landing sites, is aimed at providing a platform for the fishing communities to interact with Fisheries Protection Unit personnel on the challenges faced and sensitize them on the benefits of legal fishing.

She commended President Yoweri Museveni for his unwavering support on increasing fish harvests in the country as evidenced by the deployment of the unit’s officials to fight against illegal fishing transactions.

Employ appropriate fishing methods

Tukahirwa urged fishing communities at the respective visited landing sites to employ appropriate fishing gear to conserve the water bodies and ensure continuity of the highly lucrative fishing industry.

She said: “Water bodies don't expand but population increases. Adding that a time will come when lakes can not sustain us, if inappropriately encroached.”

The improper water bodies encroachment by unscrupulous fishermen propelled her to call for maximum cooperation between the unit's troops and fishing communities to ensure growth of the sector.

Tukahirwa further called upon leaders in Amolatar district to stop politicking and embrace government programs and fight illegal fishing on lakes.

“Let us tell people the truth so that they can benefit from lake Kyoga instead of telling lies which can't help in kicking out poverty,” she emphasized.

Tukahirwa, however, unconditionally pardoned some fishermen with impounded fishing gear, cautioning them to stop illegal fishing.

Promise to co-operate

On their part, locals and landing site chairpersons promised good co-operation with the unit’s personnel and thanked Museveni for his visionary leadership that has nowadays inevitably increased fish stocks, especially the Nile Perch and Tilapia - with some weighing between 65kg and 80kgs.

Unfortunately, some of the fishing communities still decried the stealing of boat engines and fishing nets among fishermen, especially Kawongo landing site, lack of resources to purchase the recommended fishing gears, inadequate FPU troops to streamline the sector in some areas, especially Lwampanga landing site and high-handedness in dealing with people suspected of engaging in illegal fishing, among others.

In 2017, President Museveni initiated the operation against illegal fishing which has had a significant increase in fish stocks ever since the crackdown on illegal fishing on mainly Uganda's lakes and rivers.

Tukahirwa was accompanied by Amolatar RDC Francis Okello Rwothony, Amolatar LC5 vice-chairperson Onyang Peter Sam, Amolatar Workers' Councilor Eumu Patrick Kauma, FPU intelligence officer Maj Joseph Cherop, FPU operations officer Frank Kanzira and FPU public information officer Lt Lauben Ndifula, among others.