The government has introduced new restrictions on mukene fishing in Uganda, limiting fishing activities to 14 days a month and setting strict requirements for boats, fishing equipment and licences.
The measures are intended to regulate the harvesting of mukene, also known as silver fish, and other small fish species, including ragoogi and muziri, while protecting fish breeding grounds and preventing uncontrolled fishing on the country’s water bodies.
Under the new guidelines announced by State Minister for Fisheries Robert Migadde Ndugwa, mukene fishing will only be allowed for 14 days each month, starting from the beginning of the moon’s dark phase. This means fishers will not be allowed to operate throughout the month as they previously might have done, but must follow the designated fishing period.
The government has also restricted where fishing can take place. All fishing vessels must operate at least two kilometres from the shoreline and keep away from fish breeding grounds and other protected areas.
The new rules also specify the type of equipment fishers can use. Solar-powered fishing lights and lampara nets remain prohibited. Each fishing boat will only be allowed to carry a maximum of two kerosene-powered lanterns and one scoop net, whose mesh must measure at least eight millimetres.
These restrictions are intended to control how mukene is harvested and prevent the use of prohibited fishing methods that could threaten fish stocks.
The government has also introduced requirements for fishing boats. Every vessel must be at least 24 feet long and carry no more than two crew members. Boat owners must present their vessels and fishing equipment for inspection before they can be licensed.
Not everyone will qualify for a mukene fishing licence under the new guidelines. Only fishers who held a silver fish fishing licence in 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 will be eligible to apply.
Applicants must also provide proof of Ugandan citizenship, ownership of the fishing vessel and evidence of their previous fishing licences.
The licensing process will begin at the landing sites, where Fisheries Management Committees will assess applicants and recommend those who qualify to the District Fisheries Officers. The officers will verify the applications before forwarding them to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries for final approval.
The guidelines also give traditional fishing communities priority when licences are issued in their respective areas. Foreign fishing vessels are not allowed to operate in Ugandan waters.
The annual licensing exercise will begin with recommendations from landing site committees in November. Boat and equipment inspections will follow in December, while the issuance of licences will take place between January and March.
The government has warned fishers against operating without valid licences, saying enforcement agencies will monitor fishing activities and ensure that all operators comply with the new requirements.
State Minister Ndugwa said the measures form part of efforts to bring order to the fishing industry, regulate access to Uganda’s water resources and ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable.
