The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan fishermen on Lake Albert are fleeing to the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC to carry out fishing following intensified operations and destruction of their illegal fishing gear by the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU.
The operation is targeting those with undersized boats, fishing nets, hooks and monofilament nets among others from the landing sites of Butiaba, Wanseko, Bugoigo and Kabolwa in Buliisa, Kijangi, Kaiso, Rwentale, Runga and Mbegu in Hoima, Nkondo, Sebigoro, Kyehoro, Bugoma and Kyekapere in Kikuube, Ndaiga and Kitebere in Kagadi.
The FPU has been conducting operations against illegal fishing gear on Lake Albert since August. The gear that does not meet specifications has been confiscated and burnt by the FPU leaving fishermen stranded.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, illegal fishing involves using less than five-inch fishing nets for Tilapia and less than seven-inch fishing nets for Nile Perch. It also entails using fishing boats that are less than 20 feet in length.
Alfred Bedijo, a fisherman at Runga landing site in Hoima district says life has become unbearable for them following the operation and as a result, many fishermen have crossed to DRC where the environment is favourable.
John Byakagaba, a fisherman at Sebigoro landing site in Kikuube says the operation has left many fishermen impoverished, yet they cannot afford to buy the recommended fishing gear.
Patrick Musinguzi, a fisherman at Butiaba landing site in Buliisa says the current situation on Lake Albert is alarming and called for government intervention to avail fishermen with cheap loans so that they can acquire the recommended fishing gear.
Kikuube LCV vice chairperson Vincent Alpha Opio faults the FPU for not involving district leaders in their operation, adding that when the operation started, leaders were not consulted.
Lt. Lauben Ndifula, the spokesperson of the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU says that the operations that are ongoing are aimed at strengthening the national capacity to eliminate illegal fishing and increase the protection of transboundary resources.
There are more than 50,000 fishermen on Lake Albert who harvest more than 100,000 tons of fish per year. Overall, fishing supports the livelihood of more than 1.6 million people in Uganda. Over the last 15 years, the fisheries sector has played an important social and economic role in the country as one of the key foreign exchange-earners, contributing 2.6 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 12 percent to agriculture GDP.
In September alone, FPU impounded and destroyed more than 300,000 pieces of illegal fishing gear countrywide. The destroyed fishing gear included boats, monofilament nets, solar batteries, bulbs, hooks, and immature fish among others.
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