Mpondwe-Lhubiriha fish market re-opened

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Mpondwe-Lhubiriha fish market in Kasese District has been re-opened, more than three years after its closure.

The fish market neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo was closed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to stop the virus from spreading further.

Before its closure, the market was one of the biggest border enterprises mainly dealing in fish from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan. But DRC Traders took advantage of the situation and opened a fish market on their side, and in turn, started handling the fish coming through Uganda.

On Tuesday, Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa, the commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU said that the government had constructed a multi-billion One Border Post Market and it is ideal that such a facility is put to full use.

She added that the government is committed to uplifting the economic standards of people through trade.

Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Clerk Moses Mugisa told URN that the town council had been losing close to 600 million Shillings annually since the fish trade was suspended and anticipates that the return of the market will greatly benefit the local community through jobs and government in the form of taxes.

John Wafula the chairperson United Association of Fishing Traders and Importers Limited, said the re-opening of the market is a relief to traders who had to endure tough trade conditions including high market dues, and lack of storage facilities among others in the DRC market.

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