Leaders in Pakwach District are raising concerns over a significant drop in local revenue collections attributed to the declining fishing business. For decades, Pakwach has relied on revenue generated from fishing activities on the River Nile and Lake Albert. However, since the Uganda People’s Defence Force’s (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) began operations to combat illegal fishing on these water bodies, the district has seen a sharp decline in local revenue.
Statistics indicate that the district’s annual revenue has plummeted from Shs1.2 billion to Shs400 million. District leaders report that many landing sites and markets have been closed as a result of the FPU’s operations. Mr. Robert Omito Steen, the district chairperson, noted that fishing communities contribute about 60 percent of the district’s total revenue.
“We are unable to maintain or open community access roads, renovate classroom blocks, and fence health facilities as planned. These services are all affected by the drop in local revenue because most fish markets are closed,” said Ms. Emma Kebirungi, a commissioner at the Local Government Finance Commission. She called on President Museveni to intervene in the matter.
The Local Government Finance Commission, an autonomous government body advising central and local governments on financial issues, echoed these concerns. “Districts along rivers and lakes are seeing negative impacts on revenue collections as many fishermen are pushed out of the water for non-compliance with recommended fishing gears. Some special considerations should be made because people are missing essential services,” Kebirungi added.
Residents of Pakwach are also feeling the impact. Alfred Onena, a resident of Pakwach Town Council, said the operations have affected livelihoods, making it difficult for children to attend school due to lost income from fishing. “The policy and regulations need to be relaxed,” Onena urged.
In response, Lt. Leuben Ndifula, the public relations officer for the Fisheries Protection Unit, stated: “It is the Fisheries department in the Ministry of Agriculture, headed by the commissioner, that determines the revenue loss due to the operations on both lakes and rivers.”
In 2019, Parliament recommended suspending the FPU’s operations on water bodies due to allegations of violence and human rights abuses. However, this recommendation has not yet been implemented.
