Lake Districts Set Fishing Protocol
Apr 01, 2004
THE Uganda and Kenya districts bordering lake Victoria have resolved to sensitise lake users on the relevant laws governing fishing and other forms of trade across the waters.<br><br>
By Nathan Etengu
THE Uganda and Kenya districts bordering lake Victoria have resolved to sensitise lake users on the relevant laws governing fishing and other forms of trade across the waters.
Officials from the Kenyan districts of Busia, Bondo and Suba together with their counterparts from Busia and Bugiri in Uganda resolved recently that the fishermen and traders be sensitised on the laws relating to harvesting premature fish.
The resolutions were passed during a ceremony at the Bugiri district administration headquarters to hand over six boat engines confiscated by the Special Revenue Protection Services from illegal fishermen on the Uganda side of Lake Victoria.
The ceremony was attended by districts commissioners; Catherine Gatama(Busia/Kenya), David Jakaiti(Bondo) and Jacob Imbwaga(Suba). Busia(Uganda) resident district commissioner, George Patrick Bageya and his deputy, Isaac Lulaba also attended.
Jakaaiti who led his country's delegation said that the community in the districts neighbouring the lake relied majorly on its fish resources.
“All we should therefore do is to encourage our people to carry out their activities in a manner that is acceptable by the three east African countries,â€Jakaiti said.
He said it was advisable for the Ugandan security personnel to avoid pursuing the illegal fishermen up to the Kenya side of the waters without notifying their counter-parts.
Bugiri district vice chairman George Ouma said the majority of illegal fishermen on the Uganda side of the lake were Kenyans.
“If we decided to go to the lake now and carry out an operation to confiscate illegal fishing gear, we would get more than 200 suspects within a short time and the majority of them would be Kenyans,†Ouma said.
Bageya called for the harmonisation of the legislation relating to fishing on the lake.
“Some of the fishing practices considered normal in Kenya were illegal in Uganda. We need to act decisively on this,†he said.
Ends
THE Uganda and Kenya districts bordering lake Victoria have resolved to sensitise lake users on the relevant laws governing fishing and other forms of trade across the waters.
Officials from the Kenyan districts of Busia, Bondo and Suba together with their counterparts from Busia and Bugiri in Uganda resolved recently that the fishermen and traders be sensitised on the laws relating to harvesting premature fish.
The resolutions were passed during a ceremony at the Bugiri district administration headquarters to hand over six boat engines confiscated by the Special Revenue Protection Services from illegal fishermen on the Uganda side of Lake Victoria.
The ceremony was attended by districts commissioners; Catherine Gatama(Busia/Kenya), David Jakaiti(Bondo) and Jacob Imbwaga(Suba). Busia(Uganda) resident district commissioner, George Patrick Bageya and his deputy, Isaac Lulaba also attended.
Jakaaiti who led his country's delegation said that the community in the districts neighbouring the lake relied majorly on its fish resources.
“All we should therefore do is to encourage our people to carry out their activities in a manner that is acceptable by the three east African countries,â€Jakaiti said.
He said it was advisable for the Ugandan security personnel to avoid pursuing the illegal fishermen up to the Kenya side of the waters without notifying their counter-parts.
Bugiri district vice chairman George Ouma said the majority of illegal fishermen on the Uganda side of the lake were Kenyans.
“If we decided to go to the lake now and carry out an operation to confiscate illegal fishing gear, we would get more than 200 suspects within a short time and the majority of them would be Kenyans,†Ouma said.
Bageya called for the harmonisation of the legislation relating to fishing on the lake.
“Some of the fishing practices considered normal in Kenya were illegal in Uganda. We need to act decisively on this,†he said.
Ends