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 personal property. Lakes, mining websites, and so forth. 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 needs to be solved,” he famous.
President Museveni made the remarks yesterday fifth November 2024 whereas assembly Ministers, Technical Staff on enforcement in opposition to unlawful fishing across the fishing communities within the nation in addition to different stakeholders. The assembly occurred at State House, Entebbe.
Uganda is endowed with ample 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 give excessive potential for fish manufacturing.
President Museveni defined that the federal government’s place on utilizing superior technological means reminiscent of using fashionable radars to observe all of the water our bodies will go a good distance in fixing a lot of the issues confronted by the fisheries on the lakes.
“The motive 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 with a view to cope with this, the military is prepared with the upgraded monitoring methods on lakes in order that we don’t rely on 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 straightforward to test what’s going down on the lake.
He additionally underscored the necessity for digital identification of the boats on lakes for simple coordination and financial positive factors.
President Museveni additionally requested the Enforcement physique to make use of the previous methods of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), reminiscent of holding conferences each two months as a approach of accessing data 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 let you know,” He guided.
Additionally, the President suggested that after the crew has modernised the fishing business, the indigenous individuals needs to be given precedence in managing the lakes.
He additionally known 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 gives employment to about 5.3 million Ugandans alongside its worth chain.
The paper highlighted challenges in addition to suggestions going through the sub sector which the federal government in addition to stakeholders will probe for the advantage of 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.
