Judith Nabisere, one of the affected residents, says that the closure of the landing site has worsened the misery of her life. She explains that she used to cook food and her clients were mainly fishermen but most of them relocated to other landing sites.
Several fishermen and residents on Kalunga landing site in Kyarulangira sub-county in Rakai district are stranded following a
decision by the authorities to temporarily close the landing site citing
illegal fishing practices.
The landing site is the main source of
livelihood for residents in Nkundi, Kalunga, Lugenda, Lwambajjo, Namunengo,
Kigavu, Kisovu, Lusambya, Kawenda, Kizinga and Mayenga among others.
The trouble stems from the disappearance of part of Lake Kijanebarora in May last year leaving a small shallow water body. On Thursday, Rakai authorities went back to inspect the water
body and advised fishermen to relocate to other landing sites until the situation normalises.
Judith Nabisere, one of the affected residents,
says that the closure of the
landing site has worsened the misery
of her life. She explains that she used to cook food and her clients were
mainly fishermen
but most of them relocated to other landing sites.
//Cue
in: “Abavubi baduka………..…
Cue out: ………sikyayina kyenkola.”//
Jonathan Mugumya, one of the stranded
fishermen, says they have been struggling to feed their families since lake Kijanebarora
disappeared but the situation has worsened after the closure of the landing
site.
//Cue in: “Enyanja yo bajigala………..…
Cue out: ………netuwayo ku buyambi.”//
Madina Nansereko, another affected resident, says that they are mistreated by the
fish guard who was deployed at the landing site to restrict fishing. She
appealed to the authorities to allow them to look for mudfish to feed their
families and service their loans.
//Cue in: “Nokusumulula………..…
Cue out: ………..ebyo bibaawo.”//
Bashir Kaggwa, one of the affected elders, says that the majority of residents at Kalunga landing
site have spent more than 20 years with the lake as the source of their
livelihoods.
//Cue in: “Abantu babadde………..…
Cue out: …………..mumbera embi."//
Joseph Mugumya, the Fisheries Officer In-charge
of Kooki County, confirmed the closure
of the land site, saying it may take more than three months to
reopen it. He explains that they
restocked the available portion of the lake with some tilapia to boost fish
production at the landing site and around the affected communities.
He
says that they deployed a fish guard to monitor the water body and
restrict fishing to allow the fish to grow. According to Mugumya, only
seven out of more than 30 fishermen have been allowed to stay at the landing in
the meantime.
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer