President Museveni Urges Fishermen in Kaberamaido to Embrace Sustainable Fishing for a Prosperous Future

KABERAMAIDO, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged fishermen across Uganda to adopt responsible and sustainable fishing practices to protect the country’s fish stocks and safeguard future livelihoods.

While addressing thousands of supporters at a campaign rally in Kaberamaido District, the President emphasized that indiscriminate fishing, especially the harvesting of immature fish, threatens not only the environment but also the long-term economic survival of fishing communities.

“It is taboo to catch small fish,” Museveni warned. “Let them grow and lay eggs several times before you harvest them. If we protect the young fish, we will have enough for the future.”

The Head of State stressed that responsible resource management is central to the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s vision for sustainable wealth creation. He revealed that the government is rolling out initiatives to support organized fish farming, including the establishment of designated fish ponds in various districts.

Museveni encouraged the youth — particularly university graduates struggling to find employment — to explore fish farming as a viable business opportunity.

“If someone has finished university and has no job for two years, they can start fish farming,” the President advised. “It brings income and food security.”

He noted that the government, through agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), is promoting aquaculture as an alternative to overfishing in natural water bodies. By adopting modern fish farming techniques, Museveni said, Ugandans can boost household incomes while conserving aquatic resources.

Highlighting NRM’s Pillars of Progress

During his address, President Museveni reflected on the National Resistance Movement’s key achievements that have transformed Uganda over the years. He underscored peace and stability, infrastructure development, and wealth creation as the three fundamental pillars underpinning the country’s progress.

He lauded the Teso subregion for its contribution to national development and cited several ongoing infrastructure projects in the area. Among these, he mentioned the tarmacking of the Otuke road, with plans to extend it further to Amolatar, as part of efforts to enhance connectivity and trade.

Museveni also acknowledged existing challenges in power reliability despite Uganda’s substantial electricity generation capacity. He pledged to investigate the causes of intermittent supply and ensure that citizens benefit from consistent and affordable power.

“Peace, development, and wealth creation — these are the pillars of our progress,” he stated. “Together, we shall continue building Uganda.”

First Lady Applauds NRM’s Legacy of Peace 

Earlier, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, addressed the rally and praised the NRM government for building a strong and enduring foundation of peace and stability in Uganda.

“I want to thank God for using the President and the NRM government to build a strong foundation for our nation, Uganda — a foundation that has brought peace and stability to our great homeland,” she said.

She called upon residents of Kaberamaido and the wider Teso subregion to safeguard this legacy by voting for President Museveni and the NRM team in the forthcoming general elections.

“I also want to take this opportunity to remind you all — to vote for the President and the entire NRM team — so that Uganda can continue building on this strong inheritance of our homeland,” Maama Janet added.

Sustainability and Prosperity Hand in Hand

The President’s remarks on sustainable fishing come at a time when the government is intensifying its campaign against illegal fishing practices across major water bodies, including Lake Kyoga, Lake Victoria, and Lake Albert. Authorities have recently heightened enforcement efforts, with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit leading operations to curb the use of undersized nets and unlicensed fishing.

By urging fishermen to protect young fish and embrace aquaculture, Museveni is reinforcing his broader economic message of self-sufficiency and responsible resource use — a cornerstone of his Wealth Creation agenda.

As his campaign trail continues across the Teso subregion, the President’s message remains clear: sustainable practices today are the foundation for Uganda’s prosperity tomorrow.