The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and local authorities destroyed illegal fishing gear worth Sh831 million in Kamuli, Kaliro and Buyende districts in over the past eight months, leading to an increase in the price of fish.

The FPU was established by President Museveni in January 2017 to mitigate and end illegal fishing practices on Ugandan waterbodies.

However, on October 28, the FPU destroyed 294 pieces of Kokota (beach seines) worth Sh279.6 million, as well as 2,204 pieces of monofilament nets worth Sh11 million and 2 000 undersized (three inch) gill nets worth Sh40 million in Kapyokolo. The UPDF detaches to Kapyokolo. Zone “B”, Bukungu sub-county, Buyende district.

Also destroyed were 122 small boats worth Sh488.8 million and 60 pieces of sunken nets worth Sh12 million, according to Lieutenant Daniel Kamuntu, Commander Kamuli, Buyende, Kaliro.

According to Lt. Kamuntu, a total of 4,680 illegal fishing gears were recovered from the Bukungu, Kapyokolo, Kasato, Kiwantama, Kibale and Kyankole landing sites between February and September 2024, which left fishermen in distress and led to a surge in fish prices. .

Shaffick Ssengendo, a fishmonger at the Bukungu landing site, says that due to these “interruptions,” a kilogram of Nile perch rose from Sh10,000 to Sh14,000 during the same period.

“Initially, an average school of three to four Tilapia was bought for Sh15,000, which is no longer the case,” Mr Ssengendo said in an interview on October 29.

Lieutenant Kamuntu advised the fishing community to buy the recommended fishing gear or be prepared to face the law, rather than misleading the public that most of the time they are harassed by the maritime forces.

“We will continue operations until we are satisfied that illegal fishing gear has been eliminated from this community,” Lt. Kamuntu said.

The Buyende District Fisheries Officer, Ms Sarah Nalukwago, urged fishermen to adhere to the required fishing requirements, use the FPU to monitor illegal fishermen and protect the lake which will enable the fish to grow and sustain to their needs.

According to Nalukwago, the number of illegal fishing gear on Lake Kyoga has increased, adding that “what has been destroyed is too small compared to what remains on the waters.”

She further advised the fishing community to contact the FPU and the Department of Fisheries to work together to increase their catches.

The Deputy Resident Commissioner of Buyende, Mr. Emmanuel Kabenge, advised fishing communities to pay attention to the lake as it is their main source of income.

The Mayor of Bukungu Municipal Council, Mr Mathias Aribo Nyadundo, commended the FPU for the increase in adult fish catches from the lake; but he blamed them for the alleged wrongful eviction of 37 residents of the Kapyokolo UPDF detachment, saying they should either be resettled or compensated.

He said: “We have lodged our complaint regarding the illegal acquisition of this land with the Minister of State for Defense (Jacob Oboth), but we have not received any communication from him to date.”