“If fishermen want to regain the prosperity they once enjoyed, they must work with the government to clean and protect our lakes. We shall work together to develop this sector,” he pledged.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Robert Migadde Ndugwa, has called on technical officers in the Ministry of Agriculture to prioritize the Fisheries Regulations, saying they are key to easing pressure in Uganda’s fishing sector.
Migadde, who is also the Member of Parliament for Buvuma Islands County, made the remarks while receiving instruments of office as State Minister for Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) headquarters in Entebbe.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Migadde said the implementation of the Fisheries Regulations would help address many of the challenges facing the sector.
“I have spent most of my life in fisheries as a practitioner, and I understand most of the challenges affecting the sector. That experience is what I bring to this office. I have never dealt in immature fish,” he said.
The minister also urged fishing communities across the country to work together in protecting and restoring Uganda’s water bodies. He emphasized that many of the sector’s challenges can only be resolved through the collective efforts of fishermen and government.
“If fishermen want to regain the prosperity they once enjoyed, they must work with the government to clean and protect our lakes. We shall work together to develop this sector,” he pledged.
Migadde commended MAAIF for its continued service to Ugandans, noting that agriculture remains the backbone of the country’s economy and a major contributor to national GDP.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Desire Muhooza, pledged to introduce new ideas aimed at transforming the agricultural sector.
“I want to thank President Museveni for entrusting me with this opportunity. This is my first time serving as a minister, and although I am not a Member of Parliament, I am committed to working hard for this sector,” she said.
During the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of MAAIF, Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, assured the ministers of the ministry’s full support.
“We shall continue to provide evidence-based policy and technical advice on all programmes and projects under MAAIF. We shall also ensure the transparent and accountable use of resources in line with the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, procurement laws and audit requirements,” Kasura said.
The handover ceremony marked the beginning of a new leadership team at MAAIF, with both ministers pledging to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen agriculture and fisheries, two sectors considered vital to Uganda’s economic growth.
