Uganda’s administration has completed drafting regulations to enforce the 2023 Fisheries and Aquaculture Act. According to the Nile Post, State Minister Robert Migadde Ndugwa presented these measures to a parliamentary committee, outlining a shift away from military policing of fishing zones. The goal is to operationalize the law through specific procedural standards and enforcement tools that have previously been missing.
The core of the proposal involves empowering existing landing site councils to manage daily operations. The Nile Post reports that the government prefers using current elected bodies to avoid new contests where local leaders might favor friends involved in illicit fishing. This approach aims to lower friction between fishers and security forces. Migadde explained that the current election process often results in the selection of individuals who lead illegal fishing groups, a cycle the new rules intend to break by relying on established local structures.
Technical adjustments to the fishing fleet are also included in the draft. Vessels targeting mukene fish will face a length cap of 24 feet, down from the previous 29-foot limit. Boats operating in smaller waters will be restricted to 15 feet. To control fleet expansion, the registration of new vessels will pause for two years, with priority given to owners who have consistently paid license fees. Additionally, the draft addresses the nuni method, where fish are cut before processing, proposing a tax reduction to help Ugandan firms compete with neighbors in East Africa.
Enforcement will become more severe under the new framework. The Nile Post notes that violators could face imprisonment for up to three years or pay a fine reaching Shs20 million. While the measures aim to streamline management, parliamentarians have voiced concerns about the registration rules and other provisions. The regulations must still pass through Cabinet approval before they become active law, finalizing the detailed procedures required by the 2023 legislation.