UEGCL donates life jackets to fishermen as UWA urges communities to protect park
They called for increased community sensitisation against bush burning as the dry season approaches.
Kiryandongo: The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) has donated 100 life jackets to fishermen in Karuma Town Council and Kamdini Sub-county in Oyam District as part of efforts to promote safety on the River Nile.
The beneficiaries are members of fishing communities participating in the Collaborative Resource Management programme.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Richard Kepo, an Environmental Officer at UEGCL, urged fishermen to work closely with the company and other stakeholders in protecting the environment and ensuring their own safety.
Kepo said fishermen have three key responsibilities: protecting nature, supporting their livelihoods and protecting themselves from dangers on the water.
“Fishermen have three roles: to support nature, to support themselves and to save themselves,” Kepo said.
He explained that UEGCL has chosen to work with fishermen rather than evict them from the dam catchment area because they are important stakeholders in the management of the resource.
Kepo also encouraged fishermen and surrounding communities to embrace tree planting, saying forests play an important role in sustaining fishing and water resources.
“There is a good relationship between trees, fishing and water. We used to think that trees would stop fishing, but trees provide shade and create a good breeding environment for fish,” he said.
He, however, warned that deforestation continues to threaten the environment.
During the exercise, community members raised concerns that some of the trees planted earlier had failed to survive due to grazing, bush burning and flooding.
They called for increased community sensitisation against bush burning as the dry season approaches.
Kepo said the trees planted under the programme belong to the Government of Uganda and warned residents against destroying them.
“These trees belong to the Government of Uganda, not UEGCL. Anyone who destroys them will face the law,” he warned.
He urged communities to prepare land ahead of next year’s tree-planting exercise, saying UEGCL will provide seedlings.
UWA Urges Communities to Protect the Park
Godwin Arinaitwe, who is in charge of Community Conservation at Karuma Wildlife Reserve, said the initiative is being implemented under the Collaborative Resource Management programme.
He said the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) works with organised community groups to allow registered members to access certain resources in the protected area, including fishing, grass cutting and collection of firewood.
“We work with communities under Collaborative Resource Management to allow them to access resources such as fishing, grass cutting and firewood, as long as they are registered in associations,” Arinaitwe said.
Livingston Ojidi, Chairman of the Karuma Fishing Community, thanked UEGCL for the donation, saying the life jackets will help reduce risks associated with changing water levels along the Nile.
“The jackets will save lives because the water levels on the Nile keep changing. This is the second time UEGCL has donated life jackets to us,” Ojidi said.
The LC1 Vice Chairman of Karuma, Ocen Richard, also thanked the government and UEGCL for what he described as efforts to improve the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Olade Moses, the LC3 Chairman of Kamdini, warned residents against destroying newly planted trees.
He also urged communities to stop poaching and encroachment on the wildlife reserve, noting that UWA has supported communities through projects such as schools and health facilities.
Bongomin Ismael, the LC3 Chairman of Karuma Town Council, asked residents to value and protect the donated equipment and other development projects.
“Let us appreciate this donation and avoid vandalism so that more projects can come to our communities,” Bongomin said.
UEGCL Warns Fishermen Against Selling Life Jackets
Enock Kusasira, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at UEGCL, said the River Nile can change its behaviour unexpectedly, exposing fishermen to danger.
He urged all beneficiaries to wear the life jackets whenever they are on the water and warned them against selling the equipment.
“The River Nile changes its behaviour anytime. We therefore ask fishermen to always wear these life jackets and not to sell them,” Kusasira said.
Kusasira said approximately 26 people drown every year in the Karuma waters, highlighting the need for fishermen to take water safety seriously.
He also said UEGCL has supported communities in Masindi and Oyam through the construction of schools and health centres.
Fishermen Cite Falling Incomes
Dan Muganga, the Resident District Commissioner of Kiryandongo, commended fishermen for organising themselves into groups, saying this makes it easier for them to lobby for support and access government programmes.
He thanked UWA and UEGCL for supporting the fishing communities and encouraged fishermen to take advantage of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
Muganga also urged parents in the fishing communities to prioritise education for their children and encouraged residents to report illegal activities taking place inside the wildlife reserve.
Meanwhile, fisherman Walter Otim said changing water levels have negatively affected his income.
“I used to earn between 500,000 and 600,000 shillings, but now I get only about 100,000 because of the changing water levels in the river,” Otim said.
Otim thanked UWA for allowing registered fishermen to access the river and UEGCL for providing the life jackets.
Another fisherman, Ojera Tonny from Oyam, said fluctuating water levels have increased the risk of accidents on the river.
“The changing water levels cause accidents, but these life jackets will now help to keep us safe,” Ojera said.
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