By Paul Zaidi
The shortage of fish on Lake Edward is causing increasing concern among Congolese and Ugandan fishing communities. The intensive search for fish is leading some fishermen to cross borders, resulting in tensions and arrests.
“The scarcity of fish sometimes forces us to go further into the lake. And that’s where the tensions start when the Ugandans assume we are on their territory. This can have serious consequences,” explains Jean-Luc Hangya, a Congolese fisherman.
“Several of our colleagues are currently in Katwe prison in Uganda and are accused of crossing the lake boundary,” he added.
These arrests, the latest of which in February involved 20 Congolese fishermen, raise the need to rethink the regulation and harmonization of fishing laws and practices in order to preserve this common resource between the DRC and Uganda.
A shortage of fish due to poor practices
The decline in fish stocks is largely due to unsustainable fishing practices. The use of undersized nets, fishing during spawning seasons, and overfishing exacerbate the problem.
“If we continue to fish irresponsibly, we are endangering not only our jobs, but also the survival of future generations,” warns Consolée Masika Mwenye, community mobilizer for sustainable fishing and profitable livestock farming in the Basongora Group.
Exchanges for sustainable solutions between the DRC and Uganda
In response to this situation, initiatives for the exchange of experiences between Congolese and Ugandan fishermen have been established. These meetings aim to share best practices and foster ongoing constructive dialogue.
“Our meetings allow us to better understand our neighbors’ fishing methods and to think together about sustainable solutions. Recently, we had constructive discussions with our brothers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitated by the NGO Bénévolincija in Bwera, Kasese district, where we made proposals to save the lake’s resources.
Among these, the most important was to harmonize fishing practices and have a common law regulating fishing on the lake,” explains Samuel Paluku, a Ugandan fisherman contacted by phone by the TAARIFA DRC newsroom. He concludes that “it is also necessary for us, the fishermen of both countries, to have regular meetings to share our experiences regarding the fish stocks in this lake, which remains our shared means of survival.”
Authorities from both countries recently demonstrated their commitment, at the economic forum held in Butembo, to developing joint solutions to protect the resources of Lake Edward and avoid cross-border conflicts due to the search for fish.
