Nabakooba Directs FPU On Impounded Mityana Fishing Gear

Fishermen operating on Lake Wamala in Mityana District can now smile after Lands minister, Judith Nabakooba, directed the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) to return impounded fishing gear to owners.

 The impounded fishing gear, the minister learned, include four-inch fishing nets, flat boats less than the recommended 28 meter.

 This directive comes after President Museveni’s recent visit to Mityana from where a section of fishermen reported to him about the challenges they encounter.

A team of fishermen led by the minister also met the President in State House over the same.

 “In the case of making new regulations, let us use Lake Wamala as a test case. Return their four inch nets and flat boats,” she directed, arguing that it is a shallow lake.

The Fisheries Protection Unit is currently undertaking public consultations to get opinions that will guide development of the new regulations expected to be rolled out next year.

 However, Lake Wamala is yet to receive an FPU team to conduct similar consultations but very soon, the Commissioner Fisheries Regulation, Joseph Bwanika, promised they will be coming on the ground to engage fishermen.

“The commissioner fishers promised that his team will come on the ground and conduct a study in consultation with the public, and at the end of the day to come up with a regulation,” she noted.

The minister underscored the significance of returning the fishing gear to fishermen on Lake Wamala, noting that once it is done, “they would have assisted the President and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government to secure the “wananchi” because the government is looking at improving household incomes.

Mr Bwanika, the Commissioner Fisheries Regulation, had earlier told the minister that the new regulations under the pipeline are aimed at favoring all fishermen and once consultations are done, they hope not to receive more complaints.

 He revealed that this new law suggests reduction of the size of boats by 14 meters for shallow lakes as per the request from fishermen. “I will send a team to do a sample on the size and design of the boats that can work effectively on this lake.

These are the very things we are considering to review in the new regulations,” Mr Bwanika promised. He, however urged fishermen to prioritize their life while practicing their occupation by wearing safety jackets.

Mityana District Fisheries Officer, Elijah Ssenyonjo, highlighted key challenges of Lake Wamala including the lake drying out, noting that they are yet to establish the cause.

He added that they have been suffering moving sudds (floating vegetation) which is becoming a threat to the fishing communities and transport in areas of Mityana, Gomba, and Kassanda. 

“It is becoming a challenge for boats to sail through the floating vegetation and this is imposing a high risk to the life of our people,” Mr Ssenyonjo said.

 The chairperson of fishermen, Ali Ssekiwunga, hailed the minister for always fighting for the ordinary people to ensure their well-being. He decried the harsh nature of the FPU on their lake and asked Ms Nabakooba to talk to them to be friendly for a good working relationship in the future.