Fishing banned in Rakai
Sep 10, 2009
RAKAI district has banned residents from fishing on Lake Kijjanebalora. The district production coordinator, Dr. Kiwanuka Kimbugwe, told The New Vision that the decision was made by the district security committee and the production council.
By Ali Mambule
RAKAI district has banned residents from fishing on Lake Kijjanebalora. The district production coordinator, Dr. Kiwanuka Kimbugwe, told The New Vision that the decision was made by the district security committee and the production council.
“The ban started in early August and we are planning to lift it in December or January next year,†Kimbugwe said. He said people had failed to abide by the rules set for fishing from the lake.
“They were using illegal methods which caused depletion of fish,†he explained. Kimbugwe told The New Vision on Friday that even though some politicians were insisting that residents be allowed to fish from the lake, it would be difficult because there is no more fish.
“People should be patient and leave the fish to grow big enough. The biggest species in the lake is the grey fish which cannot be eaten or bought by anyone (because it is still small). This is the time to let fish grow,†Kimbugwe added.
He said letting people continue fishing at this time would be giving them the mandate to catch the youngest fish which should be left to grow. Kimbugwe said: “We are technical people and we know what is happening in the lake. By the time we came up with that resolution, the situation had gone beyond normal.â€
“The ban was imposed on one lake. People are free to fish from lakes Victoria and Kacheera which are in Rakai district,†Kimbugwe explained.
RAKAI district has banned residents from fishing on Lake Kijjanebalora. The district production coordinator, Dr. Kiwanuka Kimbugwe, told The New Vision that the decision was made by the district security committee and the production council.
“The ban started in early August and we are planning to lift it in December or January next year,†Kimbugwe said. He said people had failed to abide by the rules set for fishing from the lake.
“They were using illegal methods which caused depletion of fish,†he explained. Kimbugwe told The New Vision on Friday that even though some politicians were insisting that residents be allowed to fish from the lake, it would be difficult because there is no more fish.
“People should be patient and leave the fish to grow big enough. The biggest species in the lake is the grey fish which cannot be eaten or bought by anyone (because it is still small). This is the time to let fish grow,†Kimbugwe added.
He said letting people continue fishing at this time would be giving them the mandate to catch the youngest fish which should be left to grow. Kimbugwe said: “We are technical people and we know what is happening in the lake. By the time we came up with that resolution, the situation had gone beyond normal.â€
“The ban was imposed on one lake. People are free to fish from lakes Victoria and Kacheera which are in Rakai district,†Kimbugwe explained.