Fishermen, leaders want government to restock Lake Mulehe

Small catch. A fisherman emerges from the waters of Lake Mulehe with his day’s catch recently. Currently, because of the dwindling fish stock, there are about 40 fishermen operating on the lake and the average catch is 10 fish per head per day. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA.

What you need to know:

  • It is a natural lake that covers a surface area of two square kilometres and has an average depth of 14 metres. In July 2017, the lake turned green.
  • Local authorities attributed the phenomenon to high temperatures and pollution, especially by agrochemicals from the surrounding gardens and plantations.

Leaders and fishermen on Lake Mulehe in Nyundo Sub-county in Kisoro District have appealed to government through the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to consider restocking Lake Mulehe with tilapia and cat fish species.

The lake was last restocked with tilapia in the 1980s and cat fish around 2000, according to the chairman of the fishermen, Mr Savin Safari.
“Now that the water colour is turning to normal and we are no longer seeing dead fish floating on the lake as it has been in the recent past, we appeal to the government to consider restocking the lake with tilapia and cat fish species for the economic benefit of the people in this area,” Mr Safari said.

Currently, there are about 40 fishermen operating on the lake and the average catch is 10 fish per head per day. Before the stock reduced, they used to get an average of 40 fish per day.
The price of tilapia fish ranges between Shs2,500 and Shs3,000 depending on the size.
Mr Safari said sometimes, several traders from Kisoro, Chanika and Buganana Towns go back without any fish because of insufficient stock.
Ms Josephine Mbabazi, a fish trader at Mulehe Landing Site, said the lake supports hundreds of people economically and is a source of government revenue.
Kisoro district fisheries officer, Mr Dennis Bilungi, confirmed the development.

“A fish trader pays Shs50 per one kilo of fish fresh from the waters at the landing site as tax. The money goes to the sub-county. Each fisherman pays about Shs25,000 for a fishing permit per year. We shall do our best to ensure that fish productivity in all the lakes in Kisoro District is high because there is ready market for fish besides, the fact that it employs the people and is food for the community,” he said.
Kisoro district has four lakes, including Chahafi (1 sqkm), Kayumbu (2.2sqkm), Mulehe (4.1 sqkm) and Mutanda (26.4 sqkm).

However, Mr Solomon Basaaza, the acting district production and marketing officer, said they are planning to ban fishing on Lake Mulehe for three months to allow fish multiplication because there are no funds to facilitate the restocking process. He said the ban will take effect from February 1 and last up to May 2.
Mr Basaaza said samples of the fish that died when the water turned green were taken to the National Fisheries Research Institute in Kajjansi, Entebbe, to establish the actual cause and they are still waiting from the results.

“I appeal to the community members to comply with this ban so that enough time can be given for fish multiplication and the rejuvenation of the lake in general for better output. I also appeal to the community members to stop encroaching on the swamps around the lake because they are the major breeding grounds for the fish,” Mr Basaaza said.
But Mr Xavier Hatanga, a fisherman and a tax collector at Lake Mulehe, argues that if the district issues a ban on fishing in the area, then it should be able to offer an alternative income generating activity for the people around the lake.