GEOGRAPHY PAPER 3 UGANDA: FISHING IN UGANDA

FISHING IN UGANDA

Fishing refers to all aspects of man’s pursuit of the aquatic animals from lakes, rivers, swamps and ponds.

Uganda’s fishing industry is based on the freshwater fishing grounds of lakes such as Victoria, Kyoga, Edward and George, rivers such as Katonga, Kafu, Nile, and Kagera and Kazinga channel.

Also in swamps like Rubigi, Nabajjuzi and Mpologoma and in ponds such as Nkoma ponds in Mbale, Kajjansi ponds in Wakiso, etc.

A sketch map showing L. Victoria, L. Albert and L. Kyoga fishing ground

Status of Uganda’s fishing industry

• Majorly fish in Uganda is caught from L. Victoria contributing 58% of the total catch
• There is an increase in exported fish, fish processing factories and fish exporting companies. Fish is majorly exported to USA and Middle East countries.
• Fish processing and exporting companies include Hwang Sung, Ngenge Limited, Green fields, Four Square, Uganda Marine products, etc.
• The fishing sector has employed many people especially the un-educated.
• 60% of the total fish catch is sold fresh while 40% is processed.
• Traditional methods of fish processing like sun drying and smoking account for 20% though smoking is now illegal.
• Fish caught is transported to market centers through road, water and air depending on the destination.
• Common fish caught include tilapia and Nile perch

 Major fish species of Uganda

Nile perch (mputa), Tilapia (ngege), lung fish (mamba), halochromics (nkejje), silver fish (mukene), clarias (male), mud fish (nsonzi), Bagrus (semutundu), cat fish, moon fish, yellow fish, etc. most of the above however are of less economic value except tilapia and Nile perch.

Methods used to catch fish in Uganda

1. Baskets and troughs; this is normally used in the shallow water of rivers, swamps and lagoons. Baits such as worms, termites and meat are put in the basket to attract the fish. Also fishermen fence off an area and fish is then caught using baskets.
2. The line method; in this method hooks are used, a rope is used with hooks tied on and baits on hooks to attract fish. Once fish is trapped the fishermen pull out the rope and it usually catches large fish like Nile perch.
3. Gill netting; this is the most commonly used method where the net is suspended into water floated by floats and weights at the bottom. Here fish is caught by gills.
4. Purse-seine; these are used together with boat engines which are driven on the water and fish is trapped into the net. A bag like net is tied on the boat and suspended into water as the boat is driven in the water, fish is trapped.
5. Draw the required diagrams to describe the above methods

Major fish preservation methods used in Uganda

1. Smoking method; this involves the use of fire to smoke the fish after it has been splint open and placed on the rack.
2. Salting method; this involves the splinting open fish and then smear salt on it and put it in the sun shine to dry.
3. Freezing method/refrigeration; this is the most modern method used, large refrigerated trucks are filled with fish and transported to the fish processing factories or market centers. Sometimes fish mongers carry with them ice blocks which they place in their containers with fish in it.
4. Fish canning/tinning; here fish is processed and put into tins or cans, this is specifically used by large fish factories such as Hwang sung fish processing plants.

Factors that have favoured and contributed to rapid development of the fishing industry in Uganda

• Presence of moderate temperature and rainfall which support fish growth and breeding. This has increased on multiplication of fish within the fishing grounds of Uganda like in L. kyoga.
• The fishing grounds of Uganda receive a lot of light and the waters are oxygenated in L. Victoria, such is required for fish growth and multiplication.
• The presence of abundant planktons in the fishing grounds of Edward and George due to alkaline level of the water. Planktons are fish feed thus fish growth.
• Availability of several fishing grounds in Uganda such as Lake Victoria, river katonga, Lumbuye swamp and ponds. All these become source of fish.
• Presence of well sheltered bays on the shoreline of L. Victoria and Kyoga, these are suitable for the development of the fishing activities and setting up of landing sites such as Lambu and Kasenyi on L. Victoria.
• Presence of valuable fish species of Nile perch and Tilapia from Kyoga and Victoria. These are highly demanded by the local population as well as foreign markets. Also silver fish is highly demanded for making animal feeds.
• Supportive government policy of encouraging and accepting of foreign investors to invest in the fishing industry, companies like Hwang Sung have improved on Uganda’s fishing industry
• The government has also given loans to fishermen and mongers so as to buy modern fishing equipment. It has tried to protect the fishing grounds like Victoria against over fishing and the use of traditional fishing method.
• The rich continental shelf of L. Kyoga and L. Victoria which ease the use of gill netting and fishing gears thus a lot of catch.
• The presence of numerous islands like Ssese, Bubeke, Buvuma in L. Victoria which act as landing sites thus more fish catch.
• Availability of dense forests such as Bugala and kalangala along L. Victoria which has boosted boat construction used in fishing. Also Budongo forest has been a source of wood for smoking fish at Butiaba and Wanseko on L. Albert.
• Improved transport network which access the main fishing grounds of L. Victoria and Kyoga. This has eased fish transportation to market centers like a road from Lambu to Masaka town.
• Improved market potential for fish both internally in Kampala, Jinja, Masaka and externally in USA and Middle East countries, the market returns have been used to develop the industry.
• The availability of cheap labour largely from the dense population concentrations within the Victoria-Kyoga basin of Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, etc to work in the industry.
• The use of modern fish preservation methods of freeing and canning by fishing companies of Hwang Sung, has improved on the quality of fish thus development of the fishing industry.
• The increasingly use of gill netting and purse- seining especially on L. Albert, Kyoga and Victoria, has led to improved fish catch which has fetched more incomes.

Roles played by the fishing industry in the development of Uganda.

• Fish is source of food as animal and human proteins. Silver fish from L. George and Albert is used as poultry feed and this has supported poultry farming thus more incomes to farmers.
• It earns Uganda foreign exchange through the exportation of fish and fish products especially Nile perch from L. Victoria to EU countries and Middle East countries. Such income is used to establish important infrastructure like roads and health units.
• The industry provides employment opportunities for the local people especially to un-educated youth like at Kasensero and Lwampanga fish landing sites. These are boat makers, fishermen, mongers and exporters as well as processors like in Ngege limited thus improved standards of living.
• Fish provide valuable products such as cooking oil, fertilizers, cosmetics which leads to industrial development. Companies like Hwang Sung, Uganda Marine products exist due to the fishing sector. Such companies are source of jobs and incomes thus high standards of living to Ugandans
• The industry facilitates the development of important infrastructure such as roads like a road from Lambu in Bukakata to transport fish to Masaka town, health units like Kasenyi health centre on L. Victoria, and these have improved on people’s living standards.
• It has led to diversification of the economy of Uganda from over depending on agriculture. Many Ugandans especially un-educated have been employed like at Buvuma, Katunguru, Masese, reducing pressure on land as well as incomes and foreign exchange from fish exports.
• It has led to establishment and development of ports on the fishing grounds; these include Lwampanga on L. Kyoga, Butiaba and Wanseko on L. Albert, and others on L. Victoria. Such ports have been used to develop trade and international relationship.
• Through licenses given to fishing companies like Ngenge Limited, Green fields, Four Square, taxes from fishermen and mongers, Uganda government has earned lot of revenue and used it to set up important infrastructure like roads, health units, etc.

Negative contribution of fishing to Uganda’s development includes

• Fishing requires boats and canoes and these claim a lot of forest cover for timber. Forests like Ssese and Mabira are getting depleted leading to reduced rainfall and soil erosion. Also on Lake Albert a lot of fire wood is used to smoke fish causing deforestation of Budongo and Bugoma as well as air pollution.
• Fishing is risky since it involves drowning, foristance about 20 fishermen drown into Lake Albert per year. Also dangerous animals like crocodiles especially in L. Kyoga have claimed a lot of people loosing labour force which would have been used for economic development.
• Fishing leads to growth of landing sites like Lambu and Kasenyi on L. Victoria and these are associated with a lot of evils such as prostitution, immorality, robbery, etc. also the activity has encouraged illiteracy since very few people go to school and others drop out of school on landing sites affecting economic development.
• Most of the fish processing and exporting factories like Green field at Entebbe Hwang sung in Ntinda are foreign owned repatriating all the profits got from the industry leading to low development of Uganda.

Problems facing the fishing industry in Uganda

• Limited valuable fish species in Uganda’s fishing grounds. Many fish species like mud fish, cat fish from L. Albert are less valuable and cannot compete favourably on the international scene.
• The major fishing grounds of Victoria-Kyoga basin have been invaded by a water weed known as water hyacinth which has endangered the life of fish. The weed block oxygen and light penetration into water which is necessary for planktons and fish growth. It also blocks fishing boats and habours snakes which attack fishermen.
• Pollution especially around L. Victoria which emanates from various industries in Jinja and Kampala like Nile breweries and Uganda breweries respectively pour wastes into the lake claiming many fish.
• There is a problem of over fishing by greedy fishermen by using under nets and beach seining on Golo and Buikwe on L. Victoria and Kyoga fishing grounds. This has reduced on fish.
• Prolonged drought condition especially affecting the north, eastern and western Uganda’s fishing grounds like L. Albert, George, and Edward. Drought reduces water levels, increase water temperature which leads fish death.
• Fish predators like Nile perch which eat other species, crocodiles, snakes and birds on L. Victoria which gradually reduce on fish numbers.
• Limited capital by fishermen to buy modern fishing gears of moto-boats, purse seining nets and preservation facilities which has led to continuous use of traditional methods of poison, beach seining like at Masese and Katunguru on L. Victoria and George respectively thus under exploitation of the fish resource.
• There is limited market for fish and fish products and this is mainly due to competition from international market with other fish producing countries like Peru and Norway. Also local market is affected by poverty in districts of Nakasongola, Moroto and some tribes which take fish as a taboo like the Hima.
• Limited handling facilities both at landing sites like Lambu and Masese on L. Victoria, market levels and storage of fish. This leads to losses since fish is perishable.
• Inefficient transport network especially during rainy seasons where roads like Masaka-Lambu is impassable, and also some fishing grounds like Rwenshama, are located in remote areas which delays perishable fish to reach the market centers thus losses.
• Political instabilities in some fishing grounds like L. Albert and Edward i.e. Kony and ADF wars respectively which limited full exploitation of the fishing grounds. Also wars in Uganda since 1960s have continuously drained government treasury thus low government funding of the industry.
• Water borne diseases like bilharzia which affect the fishermen leading to low exploitation of fish.
• Others include floating vegetation, ragged relief, irregular shorelines, moon light, waterfalls, water currents accidents, limited government support, use of poor fishing methods, remoteness of fishing grounds, reclamation of swamps, corruption, siltation of fishing grounds and limited research.

 Measures to curb down the above problems

• Fishermen are encouraged to form co-operatives so as to bargain for loans from financial institution of FINCA, SERUDEF, and purchase preservation facilities and get managerial skills. Such institutions have provided loans to women groups at Lambu, Bukakata and Kasenyi for buying modern fishng gears.
• There has been a search for fish market from abroad and fish processing factories like Hwang Sung have increased on the quality of fish and fish products hence can compete favourably on the world market.
• There has been improvement on both preservation and transport facilities like refrigerated trucks of Ngege limited have helped to reach fish on market and for processing while still fresh. Also roads like Kampala-Ggaba, Kampala-Nakasongola-Lwampanga were tarmaced to access fisheries on L. Victoria and Kyoga.
• The government has tried to carryout training and research into the fisheries so as to maximize on fish production and reduce over fishing. This has been done on fish landing sites of L. Victoria like Lambu, Masese and Kasenyi which has reduced on overfishing.
• There is still a need to restock the over fished grounds like L. Albert and Kyoga by introducing new valuable fish species and protecting them from fish predators. This was done on L. Victoria where Nile perch was introduced.
• Strict laws have been put in place to check on indiscriminate fishing using beach seining and poisoning especially on L. Victoria fishing sites of Golo, Nakiwogo, etc.
• There has been treatment of industrial wastes before dumping into lakes to check on pollution which endangers fish life. Here the government has ensured that Nile breweries in Jinja and Uganda breweries in Luzira treat their wastes before dumping into L. Victoria.
• There has been a fight against the water hyacinth by individual fishermen and companies such as Uganda fishing co-operative union limited (UFCU) using machnes. This has helped to increase on oxygen and light in waters of L. Kyoga thus fish growth.
• Standard gill net size of 125mm has been recommended for use in most fishing grounds in Uganda especially at lwampanga and Nabyeso on L. Kyoga and Gaba and Majanji on L. Victoria. Also regular patrols are under taken on the same lakes by BMU to control pirates, under nets and fish poisoning.
• Creating of conducive political atmosphere by UPDF and peace talks. This has improved on fishing activities on L. Albert and Edward.
• Fish farming has been started in Uganda especially in Mukono and Kajjansi-Wakiso which has increased on fish production.

Note

• Victoria is the largest fishing ground in Uganda with several landing sites of Katebo, Ssese, Bukakata, Kasensero, Entebbe, Jinja, Bugadi, Kasenyi, Masese, Ggaba, Majanji, Kigungu, Lamu, Katosi, Sugu, etc.
• Lake Kyoga is the second largest with landing sites of Lwampanga, Mulondo, Nabyeso, Kigingi, etc. This is followed by L. Albert with landing sites of Butiaba, Wanseko, Bulisa, Buhuka, Ntoroko, Kibira, etc
• Edward and George are important fishing grounds with landing sites of Rwenshama, Kisenyi, Katwe, Kayanja and Kazinga. Kahendo, Katunguru, Kasenyi and Mahara of L. George.
• Fishing also takes place in rivers and swampy banks of rivers of Uganda mostly catching mud fish using traditional methods of fishing. Such rivers include Mpologoma, Katonga, Sezibwa, Nile, etc.

Fish farming in Uganda

Aquaculture refers to ‘growing’ of fish within the fish ponds and in Uganda it is stationed in Arua, Mukono, Bushenyi, Gulu, Kitanga-Kabale, Kamenyamigo-Masaka, Kisiizi-Rukungiri, Mbale, Kajjansi-Wakiso, etc.

The main species stocked in the ponds include Tilapia, clarias, bagrus, etc.

Factors that have favoured fish farming in Uganda

• Improvement in research on fisheries which provided the need to establish ponds where the studies are carried out like in Kajjansi-Wakiso.
• Supportive government policy of financing fish farming which came up after realizing that the natural fishing grounds like L. Victoria are getting depleted.
• Availability of ready fish market both local in urban areas of Jinja, Kampala, Masaka and foreign in Middle East countries which encouraged farmers to practice fish farming so as to earn a living.
• The presence of cool temperature and reliable rain fall which support the existence of fish and fish growth like in Wakiso and Mukono.
• Availability of various fish species to stock the ponds such as Tilapia, Bagrus and clarias.
• Presence of skilled labour provided by graduates from Makerere University and semi-skilled labour by the locals in populated districts of Mukono, Buikwe, Kamuli, and Mpigi to facilitate the establishment and management of ponds.
• Plenty of fish feeds produced locally by Uganda like maize brand and burnt bread, this support fish growth and multiplication.

Significance/ Importance/ contributions of fishing to the economic development of Ugand

1. Fishing provides food in form of fish that is rich in proteins which improves peoples die and general health. The fish caught from L.victoria is consumed by the people in the areas of Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Busia, etc. and that caught from L Kyoga is consume by people in Lira, Kumi, Nakasongola etc.
2. Provision of foreign exchange, Uganda exports fish to countries like USA, Belgium, China, DRC etc. thus bringing foreign exchange that is later used in international to improve sectors like Health sector through buying medicines and machinery, transport, agriculture and many others. The fish exported is caught from Lake Victoria, Kyoga etc.
3. Fishing provides employment opportunities e.g. Fishermen, fish mongers etc. These people earn income thus improving on their standards of living. This is evident on the various fishing grounds like Kasenyi landing site, Bukakata landing site on L Victoria.
4. It is a source of local government revenue through the taxes that are levied from all the activities and people involved in the fishing activities e.g. licenses to fishermen, transporters and processing companies like Green fields in Entebbe around Lake Victoria, in Lwampanga around Lake Kyoga etc.
5. It has promoted industrialisation through providing raw materials to some industries especially those that process fish for export e.g. green fields in Entebbe, masese fish parkers, fresh patch etc but also industries that make animal feeds e.g. uga-chick poultry feeds factories, Nuvita industries in Jinja. All these depend on fish from Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga etc.
6. Fishing has promoted urbanisation where by some places start as fish landing sites then later develop into towns with improved social services like supply of electricity, improved roads, piped water that are enjoyed by the people who stay in those places e g. Kasenyi landing site, Gaba landing site all on lake Victoria.
7. It has contributed to economic diversification. This has helped to widen the market base, create more jobs and also to reduce on overdependence on agriculture as the main economic activity which faces a number of challenges. This is seen around Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga and many others.
8. It has encouraged the development of transport and communication networks. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated to help and link various fishing grounds to ease the transportation of fish to market centres however these roads are used for transportation of people and other items e g.masaka- bukakata road, majanji- busia road, kampala- Gaba road on lake Victoria, lwampanga- nakasongola road on lake kyoga.
9. Fishing has promoted research and tourism where by many leaners, students visit fishing grounds to study about fishing activities and this has widened their scope of knowledge which is vital for development. This is common on Lake Kyoga, Lake Victoria and many others.
10. Fishing has promoted good international relations especially between Uganda and those countries where fish is exported e g.China, USA, Japan DRC etc and as a result it has promoted world peace and also foreign direct investment. The fish exported is especially Nile perch and tilapia from Lake Victoria, Kyoga etc.
11. It has promoted agriculture especially livestock farming because it provides raw material especially silver fish for making animal feeds for chicken and pigs. This fish is caught from Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga and many others.
12. Fishing activities have contributed to air, water and land pollution caused by poor disposal of industrial wastes and gas emissions especially those involved in fish processing like green fields in Entebbe. Land pollution is done by poor disposal of garbage like polythene by the people who live on various fishing villages and this seen at Zengebe and Namasale on Lake Kyoga.
13. Fishing encourages urbanisation that comes with the related social problems that affect the people who live in those urban centres e.g. congestion that facilitates easy spread of diseases, high crime rates like theft, drug abuse among others. This is evident at majanji landing site in Busia, Bukakata landing site all on Lake Victoria.
14. Fishing activities have led to deforestation. This is because forests are often cleared to get wood fuel for preservation on fish i e smoking but also to get timber to fishing gear lake boats/canoes used for fishing and as a result some forests like Kalangala forests, Mabira around lake Victoria have been affected.
15. Inter territorial conflicts especially along lakes that are a situated along the boarders of Uganda and other countries e.g. Victoria shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, lake Albert shared also with DRC. The conflicts arise over the extent of the fishing areas since there is no clear demarcation on the waters and as a result there has been loss of lives and property.
16. Fishing has limited the performance of other economic sectors because it is usually looked at as a profitable and an easy way of earning a living thus many people have abandoned agriculture, mining for fishing. This is seen at Kasenyi fish landing site, Masese fish landing site all along Lake Victoria.
17. Profit repatriation due to fact that many foreign investors are involved in many fishing activities as businesses e.g. companies like 4 ways limited and green field are engaged in processing and export of fish and they are owned by Asians therefore they send their profits to there home countries instead if re investing in the country for further development.
18. Fishing has led to school drop outs because many people look at it as an easy way to make money than going to school which is looked at as time wasting therefore many young people have dropped out of school for fishing especially in communities around fishing grounds lake L Vitoria, L Albert, L Kyoga etc.
19. Fishing is prune to water accidents due to numerous reasons like hostile weather conditions like heavy rain storms, strong winds and waves along the fishing grounds plus poor fishing gear like canoes that are quite light on water. This has caused death of fisher men and loss of property e.g. on L Kyoga, L Victoria and L Albert.

Problems affecting the development of the fisheries/ fishing sector in Uganda.

Physical problems

1. The nature of climate, Waterbodies(fishing grounds) normally receive heavy amounts of rainfall which results into floods that sometimes cause death of the fish within the flooded fishing grounds plus hindering the fishing activities. This is evident on Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria.
2. The nature of relief, Some fishing grounds are located in the rift valley characterised by very steep slopes/escarpments this has limited the construction of transport networks like roads and in turn it limits fish transportation and marketing e.g. L Albert.
3. The presence of the water weed (water hyacinth) on some fishing grounds, this leads to death of fish and also destroys fish nets when carried away by winds plus limiting navigation on the water body thus limiting fishing activities e.g. on Lake Victoria and lake kyoga.
4. Some fishing grounds have got very irregular shorelines due to numerous in-lets thus making establishment of landing sites and anchoring of water vessels quite difficult and consequently this limit fishing activities. This is evident on Lake Kyoga.
5. The presence of very deep fishing grounds like lake Bunyonyi limits the breeding of fish since most fish species breed in shallow waters and this hinders multiplication of fish on the other hand very shallow water bodies like lake Basina, lake George also limits smooth navigation of boats and canoes used in the fishing thus hindering fishing activities.
6. Diseases are common around fishing grounds and this is basically because these water bodies harbour disease spreading vectors like mosquitoes that transmit malaria, water snails that spread bilharzia etc. These diseases affect the fishermen thus limiting the fishing activities on the various waterbodies like L Victoria, Lake Albert etc.
7. The existence of water predators within the fishing grounds like crocodiles, snakes and the Nile perch fish, these feed on the young and small fish thus reducing on the fish stocks but also scares away the fishermen during fishing thus limiting fishing activities. This is evident on Lake Kyoga, Lake Victoria and Lake Albert.
8. There is also a problem of the floating islands (suds). These destroy the fishing gear when found in water, limits navigation of fishermen on the water body and also leads to death of fish in the waterbody. This is evident on Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga.
9. The presence of very strong seasonal winds on some fishing grounds, these cause accidents to fishermen especially those that use canoes and other small boats and consequently there is loss of lives and property thus hindering fishing. This is common on Lake Kyoga, and Lake Victoria.

Human problems

10. Indiscriminative fishing which involves the use of poor and illegal methods of fishing e.g. beach seining, use of poison, use of undersized nets etc. These methods destroy even the young fish thus limiting sustainable fishing which results into reduced stocks of fish in the water body. This is evident on Lake Kyoga Lake Victoria etc.
11. Smuggling of fish to the neighbouring countries thus causing a shortage of fish on the Ugandan market and also making the country to lose revenues from their exports that would otherwise be re invested in the sector for further development. Fish from Lake Victoria is smuggled to Kenya and Tanzania whereas fish from Lake Albert is smuggled to DRC.
12. Shortage of adequate capital to invest in the fisheries sector in form of purchase of modern equipment used in fishing e.g. motorised boat engines, fish nets etc. this in turn has limited the quantity of fish caught e.g. from Lake Victoria, Lake Albert etc.
13. Competition for market from other fish producing countries e.g. Norway, Japan, Canada etc normally fish from such countries is of better quality compared to that from Uganda thus attracting a bigger international market and this has limited fishing from lakes like Victoria, Kyoga etc.
14. The poor preservation methods and storage facilities, The preservation methods like smoking, sun drying, salting that are commonly used to preserve fish before sale are not very effective causing high post harvest losses. This is common around fishing grounds like Lake Wamala, Lake Edward and Lake Albert.
15. Poor transport and communication networks where by some fishing grounds are linked with poor roads that are almost impassable especially during the wet seasons. This has hindered transportation of fish to market centres e.g. Bukakata- masaka road, kasenyi- nabagereka road on Lake Victoria.
16. Pollution of water in the various fishing grounds especially from the chemicals released in the water bodies from the industries around them. These are toxic chemicals that lead to death of fish in the waterbody e.g. Nile breweries industry and nyanza textile industries dump wastes in Lake Victoria.
17. Insecurity on some fishing grounds caused by the frequent piracy. These normally come from the neighbouring countries who steal boats, fish, and nets from the fishermen thus affecting the fishing activities. This is evident on Lake Albert and Lake Victoria.
18. Corruption in form of embezzling resources directed towards the development of the sector in form of educating the fishermen better methods of fishing and handling fish, purchase of modern fishing gear, protection of the water bodies etc. Sometimes the fisheries officials allow use of illegal methods of fishing through bribes all these are seen on lake Albert, lake Victoria etc.
19. Shortage of skilled man power, Most of the fishermen are not skilled in fishing and handling of caught fish leading to post harvest losses and poor quality fish. Many of them resort to use of poor fishing methods and these limit effective fishing e.g. on Lake Edward, the Albert Nile river etc.
20. Limited local market for fish, This is majorly because many Ugandans are relatively poor therefore can not afford to buy fish for consumption but also some tribes have cultural values that prohibit fish consumption and as a result it has affected the development of the fisheries sector. E.g. fish caught from Lake Albert and Lake Kyoga go bad due to lack of market.

Measures taken to develop the fisheries sector in Uganda/ solutions to above problems

1. Implementation of government policy to curb/ stop indiscriminative fishing on the various fishing grounds to try and re stock the waterbodies. This is being done by UPDF to stop the use of undersized fish nets, catching of young fish and fishing in prohibited areas. This has helped to increase fish stocks in lakes like Victoria.
2. Introduction of improved and modern fishing equipment like motorised boats, use of legal and sustainable methods of fishing like gill netting for efficient fishing on the various fishing grounds like lake Victoria, lake kyoga etc.
3. Introduction of modern fish preservation methods and facilities e.g. the use of refrigerated trucks to transport fish safely to market centres like processing factories which has greatly reduced on post harvest losses. This is evident at kasenyi fish landing site on Lake Victoria.
4. There has been construction of fish processing plants near the fishing grounds in order to add value on fish so as to fetch high prices especially on the world market. This is evident at masese fish landing site with masese fish packer’s factory, Green fields factory around Lake Victoria.
5. Training of fisheries personnel for better management of the sector has been done through institutions like Entebbe fisheries institute that awards diploma and degrees in fisheries but also at Makerere University with courses in aqua culture. This skilled labour has improved fishing activities on Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga etc.
6. There has been increased research and development in the fisheries sector e.g. at the fisheries research institute at kajjansi, the fishery research organisation in Jinja. Research is done on fish multiplication, better methods of fishing and preservation. This is seen on Lake Victoria.
7. Improvement of transport and communication networks to link the fishing grounds to market centres for easy distribution and marketing of fish. This has been done through grading and tarmacking of some roads e.g. masese- Jinja road, Gaba- Kampala road around Lake Victoria.
8. Sensitisation of communities around the fishing grounds about conservation and proper utilisation of the waterbodies. This has been done through workshops, seminars, radio and through this people have learnt to protect the fishing grounds for sustainable exploitation of the water bodies thus improving on fishing activities e.g. around lake wamala, lake Edward etc.
9. Liberalisation of the fisheries sector where by private investors have come in with adequate capital to invest in the fishing, processing and export of fish to earn high revenues from the sector e.g. kasenyi fish landing site is owned by private investors plus factories like green fields in Entebbe that handle fish from lake Victoria.
10. There has been enlargement of market for fish through educating people about the values of fish consumption, some fish species like silver fish is used to make animal feeds and also through export of fish to other countries like DRC, South Sudan. This has enlarged the market for fish caught from Lake Albert, Lake Victoria etc.
11. Improvement and setting up modern infrastructure on the various landing sites like building piers, weighing shades, ice plants to improve fishing. This is evident at kasenyi fish landing sites, masese fish landing sites on Lake Vitoria.
12. Encouraging and promoting fish farming especially around wetland areas by encouraging individual people to construct ponds to keep fish so as to increase supply of fish in those areas without fishing grounds like lakes and rivers. This is seen in pallisa, kabaale etc.
13. Restocking of some fishing grounds especially lakes with high breed fish species e.g. Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga have been re stocked with fish from kajjansi research institute and as a result there has been increase in the stocks of fish in these lakes.
14. Improvement on security around fishing grounds to guard against piracy on the different fishing grounds. This is being done through regular patrols done by UPDF and marine police on the different water bodies like Lake Albert, Lake Victoria.
15. Removal of the water weeds and floating islands on lakes like Victoria and Kyoga, this is done to improve on the navigation in those areas covered by the weeds and floating islands so as to improve fishing.
16. Encouraging fishing on the co-operative basis so as to mobilise funds needed to improve on their fishing activities through buying modern fishing gear and preservation equipment. This evident at Lwampanga fish landing site on Lake Kyoga, masese fish landing site on Lake Victoria.