By David Muwanga
Egypt has released $1.9m (about sh3.4b) for construction of 20 fish landing sites on lakes Victoria, Kyoga and Albert, an official of the Uganda Egypt Aquatic Weed Control Project has said.
“Government has released $1.9m. It is balance from the $13.9m grant given by Egypt in 2000 to construct over 40 landing sites in order to control the water hyacinth,” Dr. Ahmed Ragab told a press conference at his offices in Nakasero, Kampala.
“Although we are controlling the hyacinth at River Kagera with a daily removal of six to eight tonnes, it still escapes into the three lakes and is negatively affecting fishing activities,” he said.
He said the project, which was established through a programme established by presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, targets eradicating the weed by the end of this year.
“The Egyptian minister for water resources, Mahmoud Abuzied, will visit Uganda later this month to assess the programme, discuss development of water resources in Uganda and the developments with the African Ministers of Water Council, which is chaired by Uganda,” Ragab said.
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