In September, Ismail Mushemeza, the Kitagwenda District LCV Chairperson stopped the licensing of fishing boats at Nyakera landing site following complaints from some fishermen who were accusing the District Fisheries Officer, Evelyn Atuhaire of illegally licensing boats of non-residents.
A section of
fishermen at Nyakera landing site on Lake George in Bukurungo town
council, Kitagwenda District have asked the authorities to lift the ban on issuance
of fishing licenses at the landing site.
In September, Ismail Mushemeza, the Kitagwenda District LCV Chairperson stopped
the licensing of fishing boats at Nyakera landing site following
complaints from some fishermen who were accusing the District Fisheries
Officer, Evelyn Atuhaire of illegally licensing boats of non-residents.
They also
accused Atuhaire of fraudulently owning several fishing boats, which creates
unfair competition for the fishermen.
Fishermen also accused the district fisheries officer of owning a number of
licensed fishing boats in a proxy manner, which they claimed, had brought about
unfair competition in business a matter fishermen protested.
The fishermen have asked the district authorities to pronounce themselves on
the continued closure of the fishing activities on the lake and when licensing
will resume on the lake.
Paul Balirora one of the affected fishermen says that the district authorities
have maintained silence on the matter in spite of having promised to solve the
matter before the end of last year.
Balirora says his children are likely to drop out of school since his only
source of income, which is fishing, has failed to resume.
//Cue in: “Tuli hakubonabona…
Cue out: Nitusasa munonga”//
Boniface Beyanga another fisherman says the continued closure of fishing
activities at the landing site has worsened their livelihood. He says that they
cannot provide for their families after the only economic activity remains
closed.
Ismail
Balikizaoha says the district should immediately release licenses-for fishing
activities on the lake to enable fishermen to resume their business. This he says
will enable them to recover from the covid-19 pandemic.
David Lubuka
the Kitagwenda, the Chief Administrative Officer says that the matter will be
discussed before the end of January 2021.
He urged the
fishermen to remain calm for licensing activity is likely to commence before
the end of January.
Nyakera
landing site was officially legalized by the government in March 2021 and
started with only 20 licensed fishing boats. Fishermen were assured that
the number of licensed boats was to increase due to an increase in the
number of people engaged in the activity.
However, the joy of anglers short-lived after the exercise of issuance of
fishing licenses was halted.
