The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) recently conducted an operation at Kawongo landing site on Lake Kyoga (Kayunga district). Under the command of Lt Col Mercy Adah Tukahirwa, they destroyed illegal fishing gear estimated to be worth Shs 423 million.
The destroyed gear included seine nets, cast nets, mina filament nets, undersized hooks, and gill nets. Lt Col Tukahirwa stated that this action was taken to address the growing problem of illegal fishing and to regulate the fisheries sector, which is crucial for the country’s economy.
Lt Col Tukahirwa spoke during a three-day tour from April 5th to 7th, 2024, where she interacted with fishing communities around Lake Kyoga. The tour covered Kawongo, Lwampanga (Nakasongola district), and Namasale (Amolatar district) landing sites. Its aim was to allow community members to voice their challenges and to educate them on the benefits of legal fishing practices.
During the tour, Lt Col Tukahirwa commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his support in increasing fish harvests. She emphasized the importance of using appropriate fishing gear to protect water bodies and sustain the fishing industry, highlighting that lakes cannot expand but populations do.
She called for cooperation between FPU troops and fishing communities to ensure sustainable growth in the sector. Lt Col Tukahirwa urged leaders in Amolatar district to prioritize government programs combating illegal activities on lakes and to provide truthful information to benefit from Lake Kyoga.
While some fishermen were pardoned for possessing illegal gear, others expressed concerns about theft of boat engines and fishing nets, lack of resources to purchase recommended gear, insufficient FPU presence in certain areas, and alleged heavy-handedness in dealing with suspected illegal fishermen.
President Museveni initiated the operation against illegal fishing in 2017, resulting in increased fish stocks across Uganda’s lakes and rivers. Accompanying Lt Col Tukahirwa during the tour were various officials including Amolatar RDC Francis Okello Rwothony, LC V Vice Chairperson for Amolatar Onyang Peter Sam, FPU Intelligence Officer Maj Joseph Cherop, FPU Operations Officer Frank Kanzira, and FPU Public Information Officer Lt Lauben Ndifula.
