New Fishing Rules Restrict Mukene Fishing to 14 Days a Month

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has issued new guidelines for the 2026/2027 licensing season that tighten rules for mukene, the small silverfish commonly called ragoogi or muziri. According to Nile Post, the measures were presented by State Minister for Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Migadde at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, November 10, and are intended to support sustainability in the silverfish sector.

The new rules limit mukene fishing to 14 days each month, starting from the beginning of the moon’s dark phase. They also set minimum vessel standards, requiring boats to be at least 24 feet long, and restrict gear to one scoop net per boat with a maximum five-foot wooden ring and an eight-millimetre mesh. The ministry has banned lampara nets and other panelled fishing gear, while also capping each vessel at two kerosene lanterns and two crew members.

Fishing will not be allowed in bays, breeding areas or waters within two kilometres of the shoreline, and boats must return to landing sites with both catch and gear on board. The ministry said the changes follow earlier action on modified lampara nets and a December 2025 presidential directive on light use in silverfish fishing.

The guidelines also change licensing procedures more broadly. Only applicants with silverfish licences issued in 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 may be considered, and district and national fisheries offices will vet boats, equipment and ownership before licences are approved. The ministry said the framework is based on Uganda’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Act and gives priority, but not automatic approval, to indigenous fishing communities.