The Anglican bishop of Mukono diocese, Rt. Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo has appealed to the government to release the ban on fishing especially of the ‘mukene’ species, and instead enforce measures against use of illegal fishing gear.
Early this year, the government slammed a ban on mukene fishing, addition to the earlier restrictions on the nile perch fishing, both rotating around use of illegal gears which allegedly scoops even immature fish, thus threatening the lake with extinction of certain fish species.
Bp. Kagodo was making a two-day pastoral visit in Buvuma islands, and the main venue was at St. Peter’s Church Walwanda in Buvuma Town Council. In an interview, he told Kyaggwe TV that the recent proposal to release certain landing sites and leave others under the ban was irrational and should be revisited.
He was reacting to reports by church and district leaders including the Buvuma district chairperson, Adrian Wasswa Ddungu, who had earlier reported that following the ban, many fishermen had relocated to Kenya where the use of banned mukene fishing gear in Uganda known as harry up is acceptable.
Chairperson Ddungu said the tax revenue in the district has been adversely affected, and that this had been reduced from about sh300m a year to a mere sh100m.
“Besides collecting water for home use, the lake which served as the islanders’ source of income has been rendered useless,” he noted.
“Even this is steadily decreasing as fishermen continue to run away, and if we continue at this pace, business at the district will grand to a halt.”
The head of the laity, Milly Nampiina told the Bishop that their services as church ministers have been hampered due to economic hardships occasioned by the ban on ‘mukene’ fishing.
Nampiina has however hastened to add that the economic hardships notwithstanding, they have persevered and taken ahead the ministry with the little resources available.
“It’s unfortunate that the Christians on whose offertory and tithe the church has been running over the time, have either relocated or are in their homes starving. We are now on our knees appealing to you, bishop to let our President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni understand what we are going through,” she said.
In his report to the bishop, Buvuma mission parish priest, Rev. Brian Kiggundu said that the general poverty rooted in absence of fishing was compounded by lightning which struck the church and St. Peters Church of Uganda Primary School, injuring thirteen children and one of their teachers.
Kiggundu however thanked Bp. Kagodo who responded by providing a lightning arrester which was fitted onto the church building. The lightening incident is said to have happened during the mid of second term.
Among other services, Bp. Kagodo conducted a mass wedding which attracted two couples. They include; Caroline Nabwire and his fiancé Moses Kigaana, Rebecca Nabirye and Charles Batte.
He also confirmed to the Anglican faith more than 50 children and adults. The bishop also moved with medical workers from Mukono Diocese Church of Uganda Hospital who offered a free medical camp to the islanders.
Bp. Kagodo was accompanied by his wife, Catherine Kagodo, the diocesan secretary, Canon John Ssebudde, Canon Stephen Kironde, the archdeacon of Ngogwe Archdeaconry, among other church servants.
He also gave out free bibles to all the Christians who attended the service. The rest of the bibles, Bp. Kagodo entrusted them to the Lay Readers and the district chairperson who will give them out to the Christians with in their territories.
