BY JOACKIM KULE
The Ugandan and Congolese Fishermen yesterday convened a joint meeting to discuss the causes of conflicts existing between the two parties on Lake Edward and come up with possible solutions.
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) share the waters of Lake Edward with Uganda taking 25% and DRC 75% of the water body’s size.
The joint meeting was held at Kayanja Fish Landing Site in Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, Kasese district.
At the meeting, the Congolese Fishermen accused the Ugandan leaders for always confiscating their fishing gear and detaining them for a long period of time while the Ugandan Fishermen accused their Congolese counterparts of encroaching on their small sized part of the lake with non recommendable fishing gear.
Corporal Ali Babiha, who represented the sector Fisheries Protection Unit Commander, revealed that the Congolese Fishermen who are always arrested during their operations cross to the Ugandan side internationally because they give excuses that are not genuine.
He also explained that the quality of nets that they use is not allowed by the Government of Uganda since they encourage the extraction of premature fish, contrary to the Fisheries Act.
The Kasese District Fisheries Officer, who was represented by Mr. Charles Agaba, argued that they arrest some of the Congolese because they encroach on the breeding zones that are protected for the multiplication of aquatic life which is prohibited by the government.
He suggested that the two parties should adopt new technologies especially the use of ICT to identify their boundaries within the waters of the Lake.
Mr. Mosengo Kataliko Kathembo, the Chairperson for Kyavinyonge Beech Management Unit in the DRC, highlighted that they do experience a lot of challenges with Ugandans during their operations on the lake.
According to him, they were still demanding for 63 boat engines that were impounded by Ugandans, hence hindering their economic activity.
He appealed to the Ugandan government to release the impounded engines and hand them back to their owners to facilitate fishing as their only business.
The Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Bukonzo County, Lt. (Rtd) Maate Magwara who chaired the meeting revealed that both governments are devising means of putting in place separators in the water body so as to address the reported challenges by the fishermen.
He, however, appealed to them to remain friends in the fishing business, adding that the act promotes bilateral trade as advocated for by the East African Community member States.
Magwara used the same platform to reveal that government was planning to construct an improved boarder post at Kayanja in order for the traders to access clearance services nearer to them than going to Mpondwe.
He appealed to the Congolese Fishermen to work closely with Ugandans in information sharing, adding that the two countries were still being threatened by the ADF rebels who might take advantage of the lake as their route to cause havoc on the Ugandan side.
ENDS