Government intensifies crackdown on illegal fishing on Lake Albert
On security, the RDC said government agencies are working closely with security forces to enhance safety on Lake Albert and educate fishing communities about border regulations to prevent illegal cross-border activities and conflicts on the shared water body.
By George Niyonzima
The government has intensified its crackdown on illegal fishing on Lake Albert, strengthening enforcement of fisheries regulations while urging fishing communities to adopt sustainable fishing practices to protect dwindling fish stocks.
The renewed campaign was announced during an engagement with fishermen at Kijangi Landing Site in Hoima District, where the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Rodgers Mbabazi, warned that illegal fishing continues to threaten both aquatic resources and the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on the lake.
Mbabazi said authorities will continue confiscating and destroying illegal fishing gear, including undersized fishing nets, in accordance with court directives aimed at safeguarding fish breeding grounds and ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries sector.
He also cautioned fishermen against using government-distributed mosquito nets for fishing, describing the practice as illegal and environmentally destructive because the fine mesh traps immature fish before they can reproduce.
“Anyone found using mosquito nets for fishing will face the full force of the law,” Mbabazi warned.
On security, the RDC said government agencies are working closely with security forces to enhance safety on Lake Albert and educate fishing communities about border regulations to prevent illegal cross-border activities and conflicts on the shared water body.
The Hoima and Kikuube Sector Commander, Lt. Bs Oduch, said the ongoing enforcement operations are intended to restore sustainable fishing practices and ensure compliance with Uganda’s fisheries laws.
He added that fish confiscated during enforcement operations, where permitted by court orders, will be donated to prisons and other vulnerable institutions instead of going to waste.
Fishermen who attended the meeting welcomed the government’s sensitisation campaign, saying stricter enforcement and responsible fishing practices would help restore fish breeding grounds and improve future catches.
They pledged to cooperate with district authorities and fisheries enforcement officers in eliminating illegal fishing on the lake.
Buseruka Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Geoffrey Komakech commended the government for intensifying enforcement efforts, saying the intervention is expected to reverse the decline in fish stocks caused by destructive fishing methods.
He urged fishing communities to comply with the law, noting that sustainable fishing is essential for protecting livelihoods and ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from Lake Albert’s fisheries resources.
