The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), commanded by Lt Col Mercy Adah Tukahirwa, recently destroyed illegal fishing gear worth Shs 423m at Kawongo landing site on Lake Kyoga (Kayunga district).
According to Lt Col Tukahirwa, the destruction of seine nets, cast nets, mina filament nets, undersized hooks and gill nets- worth the aforementioned figure, was done in a bid to curb the mushrooming illegal fishing transactions and also streamline the profitable fisheries sector.
Lt Col Tukahirwa made the above remarks while on a three-day (5 – 7th April 2024) guided sensitization and familiarization tour of fishing communities using Lake Kyoga as their source of livelihood.
The 3 – day tour of Kawongo, Lwampanga (Nakasongola district) and Namasale (Amolatar district) landing sites, is aimed at providing a platform for the fishing communities to interact with FPU personnel on the challenges faced and sensitize them on the benefits of legal fishing.
The FPU Commander commended the President and Commander in Chief of UPDF H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his unwavering support of increasing fish harvests in the country as evidenced by the deployment of the FPU to fight against illegal fishing transactions.
She urged fishing communities at the respective visited landing sites to employ appropriate fishing gear to conserve the water bodies and ensure the continuity of the highly lucrative fishing industry. She said: “Water bodies don’t expand but population increases. Adding that a time will come when lakes can not sustain us if inappropriately encroached.”
The improper water bodies encroachment by unscrupulous fishermen propelled her to call for maximum cooperation between FPU troops and fishing communities to ensure the growth of this sector.
Lt Col Tukahirwa further called upon leaders in Amolatar district to stop politicking and embrace government programs fighting illegalities on lakes. “Let us tell people the truth so that they can benefit from Lake Kyoga instead of telling lies which can’t help in kicking out poverty,” she emphasised.
She, however, unconditionally pardoned some fishermen with impounded fishing gear, cautioning them to stop illegal fishing.
On their part, locals and landing site chairpersons promised good cooperation with FPU personnel and thanked President Museveni for his visionary leadership that has nowadays inevitably increased fish stocks, most especially Nile Perch and Tilapia – with some weighing between 65 to 80 kg.
Unfortunately, some of the fishing communities still decried the stealing of boat engines and fishing nets among fishermen (most especially Kawongo landing site), the lack of resources to purchase the recommended fishing gear to abandon poor fishing methods, inadequate FPU troops to streamline the sector in some areas (especially Lwampanga landing site) and high – handedness in dealing with people suspected of engaging in illegal fishing, among others.
In 2017, President Museveni initiated the operation against illegal fishing which has had a significant increase in fish stocks ever since the crackdown on illegal fishing on mainly Uganda’s lakes and rivers.
The FPU Commander Lt Col Tukahirwa was also accompanied by Amolatar RDC Francis Okello Rwothony, LC V Vice Chairperson for Amolatar Onyang Peter Sam, Amolatar Workers’ Councilor Hon Eumu Patrick Kauma, FPU Intelligence Officer Maj Joseph Cherop, FPU Operations Officer Frank Kanzira and FPU Public Information Officer Lt Lauben Ndifula, among others.
