By Our Reporter
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has given the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa, a one-month ultimatum to table the regulations required to operationalize the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act. This move aims to end the confusion and anxiety gripping Uganda’s fishing communities.
Tayebwa’s directive followed an apology from Minister Adoa, who admitted to delays in submitting the regulations, which should have been presented 18 months ago after the Act was signed into law in February 2023.
However, MPs rejected her apology, calling it insufficient and failing to address the critical challenges faced by the fishing sector. Tayebwa emphasized, “The regulations are long overdue. We need regulations, not excuses. This is a legal requirement, not a matter for negotiation or delay. Within one month, we expect them.”
The discussion also touched on the ban of silver fish, a decision that has sparked further unrest in fishing communities. MPs questioned why the ban was implemented and sought clarification from the Minister.
Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) criticized the Minister for wasting Parliament’s time by offering a statement instead of the required regulations, stating, “You were supposed to bring regulations, yet here we are, listening to explanations on why they haven’t been brought.”
In her defense, Adoa apologized for the delays, attributing them to the need for wider consultations with stakeholders, including MPs, before the regulations could be finalized. She assured Parliament that the draft regulations had been circulated for feedback to ensure they are inclusive, evidence-based, and applicable.
Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Susan Mugabi (Buvuma District Woman Representative), expressed disappointment with the Minister’s statement, particularly over the regulation of silver fish fishing methods. She questioned the legality of such directives in the absence of formal regulations.”
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill was assented to in February 2023, yet 18 months later, we still have no regulations. The confusion caused by the Minister and the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) commander is unacceptable,” Mugabi said.
Mugabi also raised concerns about the continued presence of the UPDF on Uganda’s lakes, noting that the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act mandates police enforcement, not the army. She questioned the Minister’s failure to implement this aspect of the law.
Moses Kabuusu (Kyamuswa County) echoed these sentiments, criticizing the Minister’s apparent lack of control over her sector. He questioned whether Adoa was still in charge, citing instances where the Fisheries Protection Unit commander had blamed MPs for the delay in enacting regulations.
Minister Adoa distanced herself from the FPU commander’s remarks, stating that as a soldier, the commander may have misunderstood Parliament’s role in making regulations. Tayebwa scheduled a follow-up meeting for September 26, 2024, involving the Minister, the FPU commander, MPs from fishing communities, and representatives from the fishing sector to resolve the ongoing issues.
“This Thursday, we need a deeper discussion to clarify the situation, as it’s becoming a matter of the Minister’s word against the MPs’,” Tayebwa stated. The discussion arose from earlier concerns raised by Robert Migadde (Buvuma Island), who criticized the piecemeal implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act.
He highlighted the confusion caused by the FPU commander’s unilateral lifting of the silver fish ban, which had been initially imposed by the Minister, leaving fishing communities in turmoil.
