Jinja, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to securing Uganda’s water bodies and fishing economy, vowing to outlaw illegal fishing gear and expand lake surveillance systems.
The President made the remarks while meeting fishing community leaders at Jinja State Lodge, where he held extensive discussions on protecting Uganda’s aquatic resources and promoting responsible fishing.
“We reached an agreement to preserve fish breeding grounds, ensuring that these areas remain untouched by anyone,” Mr Museveni said. “The fish market is considerably large on a global scale, and we must protect it.”
In a bid to curb the depletion of fish stocks and protect livelihoods, Museveni revealed plans to criminalise the importation of illegal fishing nets through legislation, targeting unscrupulous traders and middlemen who continue to frustrate regulatory efforts.
On enforcement, H.E. Museveni cited existing monitoring systems on Lake Albert and announced plans to roll out similar radar-based surveillance technology across Lake Victoria and other inland water bodies to track illegal activity.
“We already have eyes (surface radar) in place on Lake Albert,” Museveni said. “We will implement similar surveillance for Lake Victoria and other water bodies. This will help us monitor and combat illegal fishing practices, as well as enhance overall security.”
Uganda’s fishing sector contributes significantly to food security, employment, and foreign exchange earnings, but has been marred by illegal practices and ecological degradation, forcing the government to deploy military-led operations in the past.
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