Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has proposed a budget of Shs23 billion to replenish Uganda's water bodies with various fish species and establish production facilities, aiming to revitalize the nation's fisheries sector.
This initiative comes in response to concerns from Parliament's Budget and Agriculture Committees regarding the paradox of declining fish exports despite reported increases in fish catches.
However, the proposal has met with skepticism from lawmakers representing fishing communities.
Mosesusu, the Member of Parliament for Kyamuswa County, criticized the ministry for not consulting with local fishing communities before formulating the plan.
He highted that previous government initiatives have failed due to a lack of grassroots engagement, leading to ineffective implementation and minimal impact on the sector.
This is the first time the government has embarked on significant fish restocking projects.
In 2015, shs 20 billion fish restocking project was launched in Kabarole District, targeting selected crater lakes.
The initiativeed to create employment opportunities and boost district revenue through increased fish production.
Despite these challenges such as the use of illegal fishing gear and inadequate community involvement hindered the project's success. More recently, in June 2024, the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) distributed over 2.2 millfish fingerlings and 58,706 kilograms of start-up feeds to farmers across 22 districts. This move was part of the government's strategy to enhance fish pduction via aquaculr aiming to improve household incomes and boost export earnings.
Despite these iatives, the fisheries sector continues to face challenges, including declining fish exports and concerns over the sustainability of fish populations.
Lawmakers like Kabusu argue that without proper consultat d involvement of local fishing communities, new proposals may repeat past mistakes and fail to address the root causes of the sector's challenges.
As the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper is reviewed, it remains to be seen how the Ministry of Agriculture willdress these concerns and whether the proposed Shs23 billion fish restocking plan will incorporate more inclusive strategies to ensure its success.
Source ind
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