Fishermen resume operations after strike ends

Fishermen have resumed operations after a one week strike that paralysed activities at landing sites.

Operations at landing sites on Lake Victoria were suspended to pave way for better purchase prices of the fish, especially for Nile Perch.

The Bukakata sub-county council chairman, Peter Jjuko confirmed the development saying the suspension had severely affected thousands of fishermen dealing in Tilapia and Nile perch.

"The conflict that affected our business was mainly between the fish exporters and the Nile Perch dealers over the unfair purchase rates then those dealing in Tilapia fell victim," he said.

He said thousands of people who earn from the fishing activities on the lake could not survive any longer if the suspension had continued.

Jjuko who is also the former Beach Management Unit chairman for Lambu Landing Site told New Vision that some of the fishermen had resumed fishing on Saturday after Parliament and the government intervened in the matter.

"We are so far happy with Parliament and government interventions, we are hopeful that we shall come out with a win-win result from the talks with the fish exporters," he said.

The suspension on fishing had created a scarcity of fish especially Tilapia in fish markets and restaurants.

The Association of Fishers and Lake Users of Uganda (AFALU) initiated the fishing suspension drive on March 30 as a strategy to seek redress.

The Kalangala district council speaker, Resty Nakayenga, said it was not fair for traders to buy a kilogram of Nile Perch at sh6000 from the earlier rate of sh12,000.

"Price rate of fish on the international market has remained fairly high and stable. Why are the exporters exploiting our fishing communities with extremely low value?" she asked.

AFALU regional coordinator Richard Kimera told New Vision that the negotiations between the agriculture ministry, fish factory owners and exporters were progressing well.