RUKUNGIRI- Fishermen operating at Lake Edward’s Rwenshama landing site in Rukungiri district have praised the Fisheries protection unit for championing the restoration of the fish in the lake.
The fishermen and women sounded the praises on Thursday, May 16th 2024 during an interaction with the commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit Lt. Col. Mercy Adah Tukahirwa, who had paid a visit in the area on a familiarization tour.
Led by Kiiza Abdul, the Chairman Rwenshama Landing Site and Keneth Niwagaba, the Rwenshama parish chairperson among others, they praised the FPU Commander for the efforts for championing a pro-people Unit in enforcing laws of protecting the lakes so that people find source of livelihood from therein.
The fishermen and women commended the FPU team for cooperating with the local communities in combating the problems at the landing site pointing out that this has been key in restoring order at different landing sites on Ugandan lakes.
They however appealed for additional fishing permits at Rwenshama landing site for the community stressing that despite a population of over 3,000 residents, they have only 100 permits.
They also advocated for demarcation of the borderline with Congo in the lake as well as the breeding zones to reduce conflict with authorities.
“We are so grateful that President Museveni appointed you to this office. Unlike the past regimes, your tenure so far has registered tremendous success in a few days. We want to assure you that the lake is currently serving us with enough fish that we had spent some time without” they noted.
Cue in………………….Fishermen
In her remarks, Lt Col Adah Tukahirwa commanded the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), for the commendable efforts undertaken by the fisheries protection unit in combating illegal fishing activities and restoring sanity at the landing site despite few cases of Congolese inversion.
Lt. Col. Tukahirwa emphasized that her ongoing familiarization tour is to facilitate dialogue between fishing communities and FPU personnel, addressing challenges faced and promoting the advantages of legal fishing practices. She urged soldiers to reinforce security to prevent Congolese from encroaching into Ugandan territory.
Lt. Col. Tukahirwa applauded the support of President and Commander-in-Chief of UPDF, H.E. Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in bolstering fish harvests through FPU deployment against illegal fishing operations.
She called for cooperation from Rukungiri district leaders and the Rweshama community, assuring them of forthcoming recruitment to increase FPU staffing, with Rweshama landing site being a priority.
Cue in…………………….Lt Col Tukahirwa on FPU
Chris Kagayano, the Bwamabara sub-county chairperson, praised the FPU’s efforts in combating illegal fishing on Lake Edward, urging government support for fishermen, including provision of free boats similar to other landing sites.
Furthermore, Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa directed the Katwe Kabatoro Police Station DPC to release all Ugandans detained for illegal fishing along with their motorcycles and engines.
During the same event, undersized hooks and gill nets estimated to cost over Ugx 160 million were destroyed in a way to curb the mushrooming illegal fishing transactions and to streamline the profitable fisheries sector.
Lt. Hatimu Mbazira, the Lake Edward landing sites FPU commander decried cases of drug abuse among the fishermen and fishing in the breeding zone, something that may again deplete fish from the lake.
Mbazira also paraded 83 boat engines confiscated from the Congolese who were illegally fishing on Ugandan waters and pledged to push on until sanity is restored at Rwenshama landing site.
