KIKUUBE, May 6, 2026 — Kikuube District has begun a campaign to reorganise fishing activities on Lake Albert, starting with the identification of members for fisheries management committees at landing sites.
The move marks a shift towards a community-led approach, with district authorities already selecting committee members from all 11 gazetted landing sites.
Speaking to theCooperators News, Resident District Commissioner Godwin Angalia said the exercise follows concerns raised by fishing communities to President Yoweri Museveni during recent political campaigns. The communities had called for fisheries enforcement to be led by local leaders rather than the military, in a bid to improve cooperation and reduce tensions.
Under the new guidelines, the use of lights in fishing has been banned, while encroachment on breeding grounds will be strictly prohibited. Angalia added that chairpersons of Fisheries Management Committees must be at least 50 years old, a requirement intended to promote experienced leadership.
“We have started identifying leaders from each of the 11 legal landing sites, and they will be vetted by the District Security Committee,” he said.
The committees will include technical personnel and operate under the oversight of the District Security Committee, with sub-county fisheries committees acting as immediate supervisors.
Angalia expressed optimism that the initiative would promote sustainable fishing, noting that local fishermen are best placed to understand and address challenges in their communities. He added that the committees would be vetted and operationalised as soon as possible.
The new regulations also cap the number of fishing boats at 33 per landing site, a measure aimed at reducing congestion and improving order. “This is sufficient, because many people in the sector are brokers while the actual fishermen are few,” he explained.
The guidelines apply across the entire Lake Albert region.
For years, indigenous communities in Bunyoro — including the Banyabugoma, Bagungu, Batyaba, Bakobya and Bakibiro, have complained of alleged harassment by security forces during fisheries enforcement operations, claims authorities have denied.
There have also been persistent allegations of bribery, with locals saying they have been sidelined in favour of migrant fishermen, including some from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC].
Security agencies have also cited the presence of armed groups suspected to originate from the DRC as an ongoing concern, noting that the matter is being handled separately.
Kikuube District Fisheries Officer John Kiburara called on fishermen to support the exercise, saying it was intended to improve the sector.
Meanwhile, David Baguma, a fisherman at Rwentale landing site, said the initiative would be widely supported if it helps end harassment and attacks by armed militia on the lake.
https://thecooperator.news/updf-warns-amolatar-fishermen-against-illegal-fishing/
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