Pollution of breeding sites worries fishermen in Jinja

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fishermen along the landing sites of Rock and Nyanza in Jinja district are worried about the increasing water pollution which is destroying fish breeding sites in the area.

They argue that the uncontrolled levels of pollution have deterred several fish species from multiplying because their breeding areas are contaminated with unspecified amounts of acidic waste from factories. The fishermen pinned Nile Agro and Skyfirt Leather Industries for establishing an extension of 50 meters into Lake Victoria.

Majidu Magumba, the chairperson of fishermen in Jinja district says that factory operators are reluctant to treat their waste before releasing it to the lake. They add that if the situation is not controlled, the lake will become unproductive and affect millions of people whose livelihood depends on the Lake.

Ismael Dembe, a fisherman at rock landing site says that at times mature fish is killed and left to float due to excessive poisoning from the factory waste. Dembe adds that responsible environment conservation agencies should intensify inspection of the different wastewater discharge points which will help to regulate the levels of pollution in the surrounding water bodies.

Bosco Mafabi, another fisherman says that water pollution exceeds its’ limits mainly during the night and over the weekends. Mafabi stresses that the lake is the main water source for the surrounding fishing communities and in circumstances where pollution is on the rise, their health well-being is threatened.

Moses Maganda, the Jinja district environment inspector says that factory owners have been engaged on the effects of poor waste management and some of them comply during daytime but release harmful wastes in the night.

Maganda adds that their inquiries have indicated that some of the factory employees are directly exposed to the hazardous waste which has left them prone to respiratory-related illnesses.

In 2018,  the Jinja District Security Committee suspended the operations of Shree textile factory and Skyfirt Leather Industry for encroaching on a wetland.

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URN