Fishing sites and Villages/communities in Uganda

Fishing sites and Villages/communities in Uganda are mostly on Islands and on landing sites. These act as central points for fish trade and fishing.

Landing sites

Most activities of fish trade take place at landing sites which act as both collection and trading centres for fish. The major fresh water sources have several landing sites which act as centres for fishing activities. Lake victoria has: Kasensero and Kyabasimba landing sites in Rakai District, Kasenyi and Kigungu in Wakiso District, Katosi and Ssenyi in Mukono District, Masese and Wairaka in Jinja District, and Gaba in Kampala district. The landing sites on Lake Kyoga include: kayago and Namasale in Lira District, and Kikaraganya, Kikarangenye and Lwampanga in Nakasongola District. Landing sites on Lake Albert (Africa)include: Abok and Dei in Nebbi District, and Kabolwa and Wanseko in Masindi District. Landing sites on Lake Edward and Lake George (Uganda)include: Kasaka and Katunguru in Bushenyi District and Katwe and Kayanja in Kasese District.^[1]

Ggaba landing site

Gaba landing site is found on Lake Victoria, in Kampala. It is used as a centre for fish trade. Fishermen set off from the site and return with fish to sell. The fish mostly caught in the waters near the site include: Nile perch, Tilapia, Lung fish and Cat fish. Fishing is mostly done in the middle of the lake, a little distance from the site. It is tilapia that is fished near the shore. Fishing has changed at the site over the years, from using small cannoes to usuing motised boats. The mode of transportation of fish has also improved. The fish are moved in containers with ice, unlike before when they were simpply dropped inside a boat and then delivered.

Lutoboka landing site

A fisherma's daughter with pigs in Kalangala

A garden on Lutoboka landing site in Kalangala

Lutoboka landing site is found on Lake Victoria, in Kalangala District, on Bugala Island. It is a tourist destination with hotels and resorts. The fish mostly caught at the site include: Nile perch, Tilapia, sprat and silverfish. Most fishermen engage in fishing of siverfish, tilapia and Nile perch. Fisjh preservation at the site is down though fish smoking and steel cases. The fishermen usually fish at night. They leave in the eving and return in the morning. Fishermen engage in frming and animal rearing to supplement incomes from fish.

Islands

In Uganda, fishing is most widely done on a large scale on Ssese Islands, a group of 84 islands. The biggest and most active of these is Bugala Island in Kalangala District,^[2] and Koome Island in Mukono District. Fishing is the principle economic activity on these islands.

Lake victoria fish communities

A fishing Village on Lutoboka landing site

A fisherman's home in Kalngala with birds in the yard

Males dominate the fisheries (98%). The mean age of fishers is 29 years with 30 years age dominating. The majotity of fishers are married (70%) and have families (74%).Most fishermen have stayed on landing sites for close to nine years. The fishermen are of varied ethinic backgrounds with Baganda making 49%, the Samia 14%, Basoga 9%, Alur, Itesot, Bakenye, Bagwere, Adhola, Banyankole, Banyarwanda, Jaluo and Banyala, constituting the rest.

Youthful men do the fishing while the women are involved in fish drying (sardines), traditional processing of fish and cooking. People who do not go fishing themselves but hire to catch fish, own most fishing units. The involvement of family is less. The othergroups involved in fishing include fish traders, boat owners and fish smokers.

References

External links