Mukene Price Surge: Uganda's Fishing Communities Reel from 'Hurry-Up' Net Ban

In recent months, fishing communities across Eastern Uganda have been grappling with a significant crisis following the government’s intensified restrictions on silverfish, commonly known as Mukene. The ban, enacted in February by the State Minister for Fisheries, Ms. Hellen Adoa, targeted the controversial “hurry-up” fishing method. While the government cites the need to protect dwindling fish stocks, particularly Nile perch, the policy change has sent shockwaves through local economies.

Landing sites that were once vibrant centers of commerce have fallen eerily silent, with fishing boats now grounded. From Mayuge to Buikwe districts, the price of a single basin of Mukene has more than doubled, becoming increasingly unaffordable for many low-income households. At Bwondha Landing Site in Mayuge, prices have climbed from Shs70,000-Shs80,000 to Shs120,000 per basin, forcing traders to even import the fish from neighboring Kenya.

The situation is similarly dire at Kiyindi Landing Site in Buikwe, where Mukene prices have leaped from Shs35,000-Shs40,000 to Shs80,000-Shs90,000 per basin. This ripple effect is also driving up the cost of other popular fish species like tilapia and Nile perch, further straining household budgets.

The “hurry-up” method, characterized by the use of large, heavy nets, has been condemned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries for indiscriminately catching juvenile fish, including Nile perch and tilapia, before they reach maturity. Environmentalists support the ban as a crucial step for conservation. However, local leaders lament the devastating human toll, highlighting business closures, rising school dropout rates, and lost livelihoods.

Stakeholders like the Association of Fishers and Lake Users of Uganda (AFALU) advocate for a balanced approach, urging the government to implement more nuanced conservation strategies beyond enforcement, including seasonal closures and protected fishing zones. Meanwhile, the Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association (UFPEA) defends the ban, viewing the current market disruptions as a temporary necessity for the long-term health of Uganda’s multi-million dollar fish export industry. They emphasize that regulated fishing methods are being promoted, not a complete cessation of Mukene fishing.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)