Buvuma District Authorities, UPDF 155 Marine Intensifies Operations Against Illegal Fishing

What the report says

The UPDF’s 155 Marine Battalion has stepped up enforcement against illegal fishing on Lake Victoria, with operations in Buvuma District now aimed not only at fishermen using banned gear but also at the people financing and supplying the activity, according to Watchdog Uganda. The shift was described as part of a wider effort to disrupt the networks behind illegal fishing, which authorities say are contributing to pressure on fish stocks.

At Lukooma Landing Site in Mawanga Parish, Busamuzi Sub-county, Lt Emmanuel Nuwamanya, the sector commander for the marine battalion in Buvuma, said repeated seizures alone have not stopped the practice. He urged arrested fishers to cooperate with investigators and identify their employers and suppliers. The battalion also said some local leaders interfere when suspects are detained, sometimes prompting calls to senior security officials that result in releases, making enforcement harder.

The report says illegal gear confiscated during three months of operations was destroyed on a court order, with the items valued at Shs19.7 billion. The destroyed equipment included nets and other prohibited fishing materials used in the lake fisheries. Assistant Resident District Commissioner Moses Buule Kizito backed the crackdown and told fishers to help expose the black-market supply chains. The development matters because Lake Victoria is a major source of livelihoods and food, and officials argue that targeting financiers and suppliers could improve conservation and compliance.