Fishers operating on Lakes Edward and George in Kasese District have accused landing site officials of overcharging for fishing licences by demanding between Shs4 million and Shs7 million, despite the official fee being Shs150,000. The allegations prompted State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Robert Ndugwa to call for police investigations, saying the reported payments undermine government efforts to regulate the fishing industry and protect fisher livelihoods.
Ndugwa said he had received accounts from elderly women claiming to have paid up to Shs7 million to obtain licences. He directed police to investigate the matter and identify those suspected of demanding unlawful payments. The minister also called on relevant officials to provide accurate records of money collected to establish whether prescribed fees had been followed.
Authorities restrict the number of boats authorised to operate at designated landing sites to regulate fishing activities and improve resource management. However, this limited availability has heightened competition among fishers seeking authorisation. Local leaders including Kasese District Woman MP Sarah Ithungu have called for greater transparency in licence allocation and urged fishers to follow official application procedures.
The controversy raises concerns about the affordability and transparency of the licensing process for small-scale fishers who depend on the lakes for their livelihoods. Local leaders have also raised concerns about fishing activities across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which shares Lake Edward with Uganda, arguing that restrictions on the Ugandan side disadvantage domestic fishers.