More than 80 Lake Kyoga fisheries officers receive training on e-licensing

SOROTI – At least 85 Fisheries Officers from Lake Kyoga have been trained on e-licensing by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

Mildred Nabbika Rhoda, the Principal Fisheries Inspector Licensing during the one-day training conducted at Soroti Hotel said, all people involved in the fish trade such as fishermen, fishmongers, fishing net traders and boat owners among others must be registered and be licensed.

Nabbika advised the fisheries staff to be well acquainted with those trading in fish businesses to reduce irregularities in licensing.

“You should know what fish species fish traders catch and which category they fall in,” Nabbika said.

Nabbika further told the officers that this will help in identifying people who are in the business and what charges to impose on them when they go against the law.

Geoffrey Odongo, one of the fisheries staffs who attended the training said, the knowledge gained will help him execute his work diligently.

He added that a number of fish traders have not yet embraced e-licensing because they consider it expensive and very challenging to officers.

Odongo further said, the fish traders must be sensitized on e-licensing to ensure that they fully embrace it.

To be registered, boat owners and fishmongers will pay Shs100,000 while traders are expected to pay Shs 50,000,

Meanwhile, James Okileng, a fisheries officer attached to Buyende-Bukungu landing site appreciated the e-licensing system saying, it will improve on their service delivery.

He also said, a number of stakeholders were receptive to the initiative.

“A good number of fish traders have come to register for e-licencing but they lacked some requirements,” said Okileng.

Helen Adoa, the State Minister of Fisheries recently said, the move to license fishing activities is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14 which calls for sustainable use and protection of marines and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as addressing the impacts of ocean acidification.

According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.

But 30% of the world’s fish stocks are overexploited, reaching below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.

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ACDP: Parliament directs Ministry of Agriculture to investigate none payment of farmers

The Deputy Speaker, Anita Among has directed the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to investigate claims of non-payment of farmers under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP).

Anita Among said agriculture is the backbone of the country and non- payment of farmers causes a gap in the economy.

“The under absorption of funds by the ministry and the rigidity therein by the Permanent Secretary is affecting the whole country. Why should a PS undermine the minister?” Among asked.

Among’s directives follows complaints from farmers from the Lango sub-region who are demanding money from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries. Their concern was raised on the floor of Parliament by Erute North Member of Parliament, Jonathan Odur.

“The ministry contracted a number of farmers from Lira, Aleptong, Dokolo and part of Kaberamaido to supply them with cassava cuttings. Since last year, the farmers have not received their payments yet they supplied the cuttings,” he said.

Odur says, many of the farmers are wallowing in abject poverty yet they have their money with the government.

“These farmers have children that have failed to go back to school; some have died due to lack of funds to pay hospital bills and they cannot afford other basic needs,” Odur says.

According to Odur, the ministry has money but is not willing to pay the farmers for their produce.

“I have learnt that the ministry has money because this project is funded by the World Bank, but the money is lying idle on an account. Why don’t they pay the farmers?” Odur asked.

Hon Maurice Kibalya, (NRM, Bugabula County South) said that the Permanent Secretary is reluctant to make the payments without carrying out due diligence.

“The PS is the former commandant of Kyankwanzi and he categorically told us that he will not make any payments until he has done his own investigations to rule out ghost farmers,” Kibalya said.

The government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has in recent years been using locally based farmers to supply them with farm inputs including cassava cuttings, seeds among others under the Agricultural Cluster Development Program(ACDP).

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Alebtong residents offer land to UPDF

ALEBTONG – Residents of Aloi sub-county in Alebtong district have offered 46.89 hectares of land to Uganda People’s Défense Forces (UPDF) to establish military barracks.

The residents led by John Odepe handed over the land to State Minister for Defence, Jacob Oboth Oboth on 1st March 2, 2022 in a meeting held at the district council hall.

They urged the government to refund Shs11m they spent in an attempt to pursue the matter before court, establish a primary school, health unit and connect pipe water in the area since it is hard to drill a borehole in the area.

The barracks located near Ogini hill was established in the Obote I regime to train soldiers on heavy weapons such as artillery, mortar, anti tank among others. It was also used by Koreans to train the army.

The district LC5 Chairperson, David Kennedy Odongo said the area has 50 households and there is need for the establishment of secondary and primary schools, a health facility and put special consideration during UPDF recruitments.

“We are requesting you (UPDF) to give us four slots for our qualified young people during the recruitment exercise,” Odongo says.

Minister Oboth Oboth welcomed the development saying, the government will consider the request including meeting the cost incurred by the communities to pursue the matter before court.

Few years ago, the communities in the affected villages dragged UPDF to court claiming the soldiers should be evicted because they have settled in the land illegally.

But in 2017, the former 5th division commander, Brigadier Micheal Kabango held a meeting with the communities, local leaders and MPs who include Samuel Okwir Odwee of Moroto, Denis Hamson Obua of Ajuri and Christine Achen of Alebtong and put the matter to rest.

Odongo also requested the UPDF to consider giving the people income generating activities such as a SACCO, and train them on village saving and loan association to enable them become economically empowered.

He said the level of poverty in the district is so high and there is urgent need to join hands such that the vice is eradicated.

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