President Yoweri Museveni has reassured Uganda’s fishing communities that the government is committed to safeguarding the country’s lakes for sustainable fish production.
“A lake is a common property for all Ugandans, unlike private land like Rwakitura. Lakes and resources such as mining sites are not private property. Even I, at Rwakitura, am a stakeholder of Lake Kyoga. So, this practice of self-deployment as a fisherman on the lake needs regulation,” he stated.
President Museveni made these remarks on November 5, 2024, during a meeting with ministers, technical staff responsible for enforcing regulations on illegal fishing, and other stakeholders. The meeting took place at State House, Entebbe.
Uganda boasts significant water resources, including five major lakes Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake Edward, and Lake George along with more than 160 smaller lakes, rivers, swamps, and floodplains, all of which offer great potential for fish production.
The President highlighted that the government is turning to advanced technology, such as modern radars, to monitor water bodies and address challenges facing the fisheries sector. “I deployed the army on the lakes because there was a crisis. They weren’t there before. With these upgraded monitoring systems, we can manage the lakes without solely relying on human presence,” he noted.
He further announced the government’s plan to deploy an additional surveillance system on Lake Victoria, making it easier to oversee lake activities. He also stressed the importance of digital identification for boats on lakes to improve coordination and enhance economic benefits.
President Museveni urged enforcement agencies to adopt practices from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), such as holding community meetings every two months to gather feedback from the public. “The population is a valuable source of information. Regular meetings will help you understand how soldiers are behaving and get firsthand information from the people,” he advised.
He added that as the fishing industry modernizes, priority should be given to local communities in managing lake resources. He also encouraged communities to refrain from encroaching on wetlands, suggesting that the government could assist them in establishing fish ponds as an alternative and sustainable way to utilize wetlands.
Mr. Joseph Bwanika, the Acting Commissioner for Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, presented a paper outlining the fisheries sector’s critical role in Uganda’s economy, food security, and livelihoods. He noted that the sector contributes 3.5% to the national GDP and 12% to agricultural GDP, providing employment to around 5.3 million Ugandans across the value chain.
The paper also highlighted challenges facing the sector and proposed recommendations for the government and stakeholders to consider.
The meeting was attended by notable officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga; Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze; Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda; and Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa.
