A call to enhance capacity building for fisheries management and Development between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has been emphasized.
This is meant to promote sustainable fishing practices and address environmental concerns in the fisheries operations between the two fishing nations.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Fisheries Hellen Adoa says to have this achieved, there is need for the Directorate of the Lakes Edward Albert Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation to develop resource mobilisation strategy in order to increase funding for for fishing activities.
Adoa who was handing over the Chair of LEAFAO while in DRC called for strengthening enforcement mechanisms for fisheries regulations in the two lakes whose fishing operations are shared between two countries.
“As the outgoing Chairman of LEAFAO, I am pleased to address you as I handover the chairmanship of our new organisation to my counterpart, the Hon. Minister of Livestock and Fisheries from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)”, Said Adoa.
This did not end without her highlighting the challenges during her tenure as the Organization Chair.
Limited funding for LEAFAO activities, difficulty in enforcing fisheries regulations, conflicts between fishing operators in the two countries were some of them.
To this, she called for fostering of dialogue between fishing communities of the two countries.
All this happened during the the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation (LEAFAO).
The Ugandan delegation was led by the state minister for Regional Cooperation, Hon John Mulimba accompanied by Minister of state for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Fisheries) Hon. Hellen Adoa.
The conference which commenced on 19th August 2024 was opened by the Secretary General at the Ministry of Fishing and Livestock of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ugandan delegation also included the Under Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Mr. Segawa Ronald Gyagenda, and Dr. Omara Sam.