Kwania district fisheries office issues call for fishing license payments

7 April 2026, 1:41 pm

By Odur Alphonce

The authorities in charge of regulating fishing on Lake Kwania in Kwania District have issued a call to fishermen to prepare to pay for the required fishing licenses.

In an interview with our reporter, Ronald Otim, the Kwania District Acting Fisheries Officer, stated that the government had previously suspended the issuance of fishing licenses during the election period for the President and MPs.

However, he clarified that the process is now open for commercial fish traders to begin paying, and the general public should prepare accordingly.

Otim urged fishermen to get ready to pay the required fees to support Uganda’s national development programs.

He emphasized that once fishing activities resume on the lake, every fisherman must possess all the legally required equipment and documentation.

Calvine Amuta, a resident of Ingora, Alido in Chawente sub-county and a fisherman at Gweng landing site, noted that they received a report from Lake Kwania fishing officials regarding the required number of boats. According to the report, each landing site is allocated a specific number of boats; an individual is not permitted to own more than 10 boats, and a single landing site must not exceed a total of 60 boats.

Geoffrey Oyomo, a member of the Agwiciri Alido Parish executive in Chawente and a fisherman at Gweng landing site, mentioned that the new government fishing regulations are currently posing a challenge.

He explained that they are not earning as much as before because the government first needs to verify the costs of the required fishing gear and ensure that the equipment they want to use is profitable enough to support their families.