Fishermen mongers seek Bunyoro Kingdom intervention over Lake Albert fishing restrictions

HOIMA, October 25, 2026 – Fishermen in the Bunyoro Sub-region have petitioned the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Andrew Byakutaga, to intervene over strict government regulations that they say have prevented them from fishing on Lake Albert.

Lake Albert is shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC].

A delegation led by Everce Asiimwe, chairperson of Mukene Fisheries in Buliisa district, presented the petition to Byakutaga on October 20, outlining the challenges facing fishing communities along the lake amid operations by soldiers and other security agencies.

Byakutaga welcomed the petition and said the Kingdom would organise a meeting involving fishermen and fisheries officials to gain a broader understanding of the challenges affecting the sector.

He said the engagement would enable the Kingdom to assess the concerns raised and determine appropriate steps to ensure the voices and welfare of fishing communities are taken into account.

The Prime Minister also outlined various development programmes initiated by the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom to improve livelihoods across the region.

He highlighted Eka Ekwesimisa, a flagship initiative aimed at enabling every household to attain a desirable standard of living with access to essential necessities.

Byakutaga said fishing communities could make a significant contribution to this goal if they were able to resume fishing under appropriate conditions, as they had traditionally done.

In her remarks, Asiimwe thanked the Prime Minister for the Kingdom’s initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of people in Bunyoro-Kitara.

However, she said fishing communities along Lake Albert were being prevented from engaging in their main economic activity despite efforts to encourage households to improve their incomes and living standards.

She said the restrictions had left many families struggling to meet their basic needs, with some children reportedly dropping out of school.

Asiimwe also cited other social challenges affecting fishing communities, including increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

The fishermen appealed to Byakutaga to intervene and help address their concerns, saying there was an urgent need to restore livelihoods and ease the suffering of communities that depend on Lake Albert for their survival.

Local communities are allowed to fish on Lake Albert and other Ugandan lakes, but access to the fisheries is strictly regulated.

Fishermen are required to hold valid licences, use approved fishing gear, such as gillnets measuring 4.5 inches or larger, and comply with monitoring by the Fisheries Protection Unit and security agencies.

Fishing is restricted to registered and licensed individuals using approved equipment and numbered boats. Unregistered fishers risk arrest and confiscation of their fishing gear.

Destructive fishing methods, including beach seining, cast nets and water-beating, are prohibited. Recent restrictions have also targeted certain light-based fishing methods used to catch small pelagic fish.

Security surveillance on Lake Albert remains active, partly because of concerns over cross-border security threats linked to the DRC and illegal fishing.

Government has also encouraged greater community participation in fisheries management through structured local fishing groups.

However, fishers in districts such as Buliisa, Kikuube and Ntoroko continue to face challenges arising from strict conservation measures, the impact of oil projects such as the Kingfisher development, and calls from authorities to reduce the number of operators or shift towards alternative livelihoods, including fish farming.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-launches-community-led-reform-of-fishing-sector-on-lake-albert/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news