Government Considers Reopening Mukene Fishing in November

What the report says

The Nile Post reports that Uganda’s government is considering reopening mukene fishing in November, subject to Cabinet approval of revised rules for the fishery. The proposal was announced by Minister of State for Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Migadde during a visit to Ddimo landing site in Masaka District, where he met fishermen, local leaders and technical officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

According to the report, fishermen at Ddimo said the restrictions on mukene fishing have sharply reduced household incomes and affected children’s schooling. They said the landing site once supported thousands of people and asked the government to lift the suspension, lower taxes on fishing equipment and step up enforcement against illegal fishing. Mukene, also known as Rastrineobola argentea, is a small fish species widely dried for food and also used in animal and fish feed.

Migadde said any reopening would come with revised guidelines intended to regulate fishing, protect fish stocks and support livelihoods. He also said not every landing site would be reopened automatically, especially where illegal fishing remains a concern. The minister added that the government is considering allowing use of amatala gear, though that too would depend on the final rules.

The report says the visit also included inspections of fishing gear and sanitation conditions, and a plan to install a mukene-drying machine at Ddimo to improve quality and market value. Overall, the discussion reflects the continuing challenge of balancing conservation on Lake Victoria with the economic dependence of lakeside communities on fishing.