Fishing communities around Lake George in Kasese District are raising urgent concerns over uncontrolled fishing practices that threaten both their livelihoods and the sustainability of the lake’s resources. Robert Mugume, Chairperson of Hamukungu Landing Site, highlighted that fishermen are deploying unregulated nets, exacerbating illegal and destructive fishing.
He noted that while disbanding the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) and previous committees might have had merits, the absence of formal oversight has left the lake vulnerable to exploitation and overfishing.
Mugume emphasized that the current uncontrolled fishing threatens the livelihood of the local and indigenous community.
George Nasimwa, Vice Chairperson of Hamukungu Landing Site, added that many fishermen are entering the waters illegally, taking advantage of the disbandment of local committees that previously monitored and enforced fishing regulations. He stressed that without these committees, there is no effective oversight to curb illegal activities.
However, Brenda Asiimwe, a fish trader, said that restricting the indigenous community from accessing the waters keeps them economically vulnerable and limits their participation in the country’s development agenda. She welcomed the suspension of the FPU and landing site committees.
Wilson Asiimwe, LC3 Chairperson of Katwe Sub-County, strongly criticized the decision to disband the local committee managing fishing activities. He described the move as a mistake, warning that unregulated fishing practices risk depleting fish stocks and possibly causing the extinction of species in the lake.
Literally translated, Asiimwe added “every person is doing what they want because they don’t have leadership, so I am asking the CDF and the team meant to elect the new committees to act urgently because the landing site is now to whom it might concern; there is no one bothering.”
The community’s call comes months after President Yoweri Museveni disbanded the FPU and all Landing Site Committees across Uganda in December last year, tasking the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (DCDF/IG) and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS) to oversee the formation of new committees within three months. However, these committees have yet to be formed in Kasese, leaving the lake exposed to unregulated fishing practices. URN