President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has knowledgeable the fishing communities that the federal government goals at defending Uganda’s lakes for sustainable fish manufacturing.
“A lake is a standard property for all Ugandans, it’s not like Rwakitura which is non-public property. Lakes, mining websites, and so on. are usually not private properties, even me at Rwakitura I’m a shareholder of Lake Kyoga so this enterprise of going to the lake and deploying your self there that you’re a fisherman ought to be solved,” he famous.
President Museveni made the remarks yesterday fifth November 2024 whereas assembly Ministers, Technical Staff on enforcement towards unlawful fishing across the fishing communities within the nation in addition to different stakeholders. The assembly happened at State House, Entebbe.
Uganda is endowed with plentiful water assets together with 5 main water our bodies together with Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake Edward and Lake George and greater than 160 minor lakes, quite a few rivers, swamps and floodplains which offer excessive potential for fish manufacturing.
President Museveni defined that the federal government’s place on utilizing superior technological means similar to the usage of trendy radars to watch all of the water our bodies will go a good distance in fixing many of the issues confronted by the fisheries on the lakes.
“The purpose I needed to deploy troopers was as a result of there was a disaster on the lakes. The military was not there earlier than. Now so as to take care of this, the military is prepared with the upgraded monitoring techniques on lakes in order that we don’t rely upon human beings solely,” he famous.
The President additional revealed that on Lake Victoria, the federal government will deploy one other system in order that it’s simple to verify what’s happening on the lake.
He additionally underscored the necessity for digital identification of the boats on lakes for simple coordination and financial good points.
President Museveni additionally requested the Enforcement physique to make use of the outdated methods of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), similar to holding conferences each two months as a approach of accessing info from the wanainchi.
“The inhabitants is a free mirror. Every two months, name for a gathering and ask how your troopers are behaving, on this approach the individuals will inform you,” He guided.
Additionally, the President suggested that after the staff has modernised the fishing trade, the indigenous individuals ought to be given precedence in managing the lakes.
He additionally referred to as upon communities to cease encroaching on swamps and famous that the federal government will help them to arrange fishponds, as a approach of restoring the wetlands.
The Acting Commissioner for Fisheries within the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr. Joseph Bwanika, whereas presenting a paper to the President, highlighted that the fisheries sub sector performs a vital function within the nation’s economic system, meals safety and livelihoods of Ugandans.
He stated the sub sector contributes 3.5 % to National GDP and 12 % to the agricultural GDP and supplies employment to about 5.3 million Ugandans alongside its worth chain.
The paper highlighted challenges in addition to suggestions dealing with the sub sector which the federal government in addition to stakeholders will probe for the good thing about the sector.
The assembly was additionally attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, amongst different officers.
