Fishermen operating at Masese landing site, in Walukuba division on the shores of Lake Victoria in Jinja district of Uganda are furious over a delay in the provision of boat registration number plates.
The fishermen told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that they were asked to pay a sum of 150,000 Shillings over five years ago, in order to secure the number plates.
The process, which involves registration, issuance of permits, number plates and log books, was part of a government initiative to curb illegal fishing along various water bodies in Uganda. It was partly intended to regulate fishing and avert depletion of fish stocks as a result of illegal fishing methods.
But the plates have never been delivered, despite fishermen going through a vigorous registration exercise, Atobi Charles, the acting chairman for Beach Management Unit says. He adds that as a result, more fishermen with ineligible boats are cropping up, a trend which is fueling an increase in illegal fishing.
Opio John, another fisherman at the island says that they were asked to pay an additional 20,000 Shillings in 2014 to cover the cost of identity cards but have never received them to date.
However, Namulondo Sarah, the Jinja district Fisheries Officer says that details of paid up personnel were sent to the Ministry of Fisheries for further action on the process. She adds that the district obligation stops at registration but not handling finances.
Namulondo adds that the situation was worsened in October last year when the president suspended all the Beach Management Units which were in charge of organizing the fishermen. She notes that as a result, the fish breeding areas have been damaged because there are no guidelines and this has led to scarcity of fish in the lake.
ugandaradionetwork.com