Lake Albert fishermen starve after ban on silverfish fishing

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Several fishermen operating along the shores of Lake Albert in Hoima, Kagadi, and Kikuube districts are on the verge of starvation following the government’s ban on silverfish (Mukene) fishing. In May this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAIIF) announced a ban on the “hurry-up” fishing method used to catch silverfish on Lake Albert.

The directive, aimed at protecting fish resources from depletion, has been strictly enforced by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) on the lake. The hurry-up method, which involves using cast nets known as “Cota Cota” and seine nets, has been criticized for trapping various young fish species, thereby threatening the sustainability of fish stocks in the lake.

The fishermen have since called on MAIIF to lift the ban, arguing that it severely impacts their livelihoods, leaving them and their families at risk of hunger. Many fishermen, like Baker Ogen, the LC1 Chairperson of Rwentali village in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district, report that residents in his area can barely afford a meal a day. Ogen notes that the ban has left many families with no source of income, leading to widespread food insecurity.

Margret Ngyeroling, a resident of Sebigoro landing site in Kikuube district, expressed concern about the growing malnutrition among children and the elderly due to the lack of food resulting from the silverfish fishing ban. She has appealed to the government to provide immediate relief food to the affected communities.

Zainabo Kabaseke, a resident of Tonya landing site in Hoima, highlighted that some families are now surviving on porridge, leading to increased malnutrition among children.

Joseph Pimundu, a fisherman at Kijangi landing site, lamented that the ban has taken a significant toll on them, as silverfish fishing is their only source of livelihood. Pimundu also pointed out the unfairness of the situation, noting that while Ugandan fishermen are banned from fishing silverfish, Congolese fishermen are allowed to cross into Ugandan waters to do the same.

Robert Gingyera, the Chairperson of the Lake Albert Silverfish Fishers Association, described the current situation as dire, calling on the government to immediately intervene by providing relief food. He warned that if the situation does not improve, the fishing community may be forced to hold a peaceful demonstration to demand government action.

Local leaders, including Ali Tinkamanyire, the LCIII Chairperson of Buseruka sub-county, and Geofrey Kumakech, the LC5 Councilor for Buseruka Sub-county, expressed grave concern over the suffering of the fishing communities. They noted that some families have not had a meal in days and called on the government to reconsider its stance on the silverfish fishing ban.

Pius Wakabi, the Member of Parliament for Bugahya County, has vowed to lead a delegation of fishermen to parliament and the Office of the Prime Minister to demand action. He emphasized the urgent need for food relief to prevent starvation among the affected fishermen and their families.

Lake Albert is home to approximately 56,000 fishermen who harvest over 100,000 tons of fish annually. However, the FPU’s crackdown on silverfish fishing, which began in April this year, has continued unabated.

The operations align with a 2017 directive by President Yoweri Museveni to deploy Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers across all lakes in the country to combat illegal fishing practices and protect fish resources.

Over the past 15 years, the fisheries sector has played a significant role in Uganda’s economy, contributing 2.6% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 12% to agricultural GDP.

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