Rukungiri– Over 3000 Ugandans who have been earning their living from fishing at Rwenshama landing site on Lake Edward are staring joblessness after the government suspended the operations of 67 fishing vessels following a presidential directive of reducing the fishing vessels they were entering the waters of L. Edward from 100 to 33.
The operation of suspending the operations of the 67 fishing vessels was led by the office of the Rdc assisted by the office of district fisheries.
The suspension has negatively impacted the livelihood of the fishermen since fishing is their main activity.
‘’ The suspension of these fishing vessels is in accordance with the Presidential directive that aims at regulating fishing activities for the betterment of the industry. Am therefore giving you up to Monday 27th. April 2026. On that day I expect only 33 fishing vessels to enter the waters of this lake’’. Mr Buroni Kikanshemeza, the Rdc Rukungiri district told today’s 24th April 2026 mid – morning meeting with the fishing community that took place at Rwenshama landing site on L. Edward in Bwambara sub- County.
The RDC added that ‘’ The President has a vision of combating all illegal fishing activities on Ugandan lakes like overfishing, usage of substandard nets, fighting corruption on lakes , and protecting fish breeding zones which will in turn secure the future of the fishing industry in the country’’.
The Rukungiri District Fisheries Officer Mr Dan Mugyenyi Byamugisha urged the fishing to comply with the directive and explore other income-generating activities outside fishing.
‘’ There is nothing else these people can do apart from going with what is on the table at the moment. I know that their livelihoods have been affected but the good news is that the government is planning to support affected people through SACCOs to help them start alternative businesses’’ Mr Byamugisha said.
Mr Byamugisha added that ” poor fishing methods along lakes in the country will also stop and the directive will also and restore quality and quantity by regulating fishing activities through reduction of fishing vessels, preventing exploitation, discouraging inappropriate fishing methods, and protecting breeding zones for fish multiplication and market expansion”.
The Bwambara Sub County Chairperson Mr Christopher Kagayano, criticized the development over job losses given the high population of Bwambara Sub County, totaling 47,300 people who rely on the lake for food and income.
‘’ This development is not good at all because the suspended vessels have been employing a lot of people so their suspension will cause a lot of problems to us as community leaders.’’. Mr Kagayano said.
Mr Kagayano added that ‘’ every fishing vessel employs about 25 people so the suspension of 67 fishing vessels from operating leaves a good number of locals unemployed hence the suffering of their family members who were also benefiting the 25 in various ways’’.
Community on the directive.
Mr Gideon Arinaitwe who has been operating at Rwenshama landing site told daily monitor after the meeting that ‘’ I cannot afford staying without food and money because I have five children and two wives to look after’’.
Mr Arinaitwe now wants the government to support him financially such that he will be able to look after his family and support the education of his 5 children.
Mr Nasari Amina, 45 and one of the suspended fishing vessel owners expressed his pain over the suspension of his vessel.
‘’ I and my family have been relying on my fishing vessel for survival without any other alternative source of livelihood. So it’s suspension from operation brings a lot of pain and worry in my life. Of course we shall go because there is nothing we can do’’.
Ms Sowedi Amidu 43 and a single mother 4 faulted the government for abandoning them yet the lake is the only source of livelihood to thousands of people.
‘’ I am a single mother and my vessel is among the 67 that have been denied a chance of operating again on the waters of this lake. This development will not only cause suffering to us but also death because our life greatly depends on fishing and without it we can’t survive’’. Ms Sowedi decried.
The Mayor for Rukungiri Municipality and vessel owner at Rwenshama Landing Site Mr Charles Makuru welcomed the development saying that the move will contribute a lot towards the development of the fishing industry in the country.
‘’ If this directive is implemented very well, it will restock our lakes because most of the lakes in Uganda are now empty and I think in the near future we shall be using them for irrigation. So I welcome this directive because it will contribute a lot towards the development of the fishing industry ’’. Mr Makuru said.
He also appealed to the government of Uganda to come up with strong laws pushing whoever is caught carrying out fishing in the breeding zones.
About Lake Eward.
Lake Edward (locally Rwitanzigye or Rweru) is one of the smaller African great lakes .It is located in the Albertine Rift the western branch of the East African Rift on the border between the DR Congo and Uganda with its northern shore a few kilometers south of the Equator
Henry Morton Stanley was first European explorer to see this lake in 1888, during the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. The lake was named in honor of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, son of then British monarch Queen Victoria, and later to become King Edward VII.
