Lives at risk as residents consume ‘poisoned fish’

Busia. The lives of residents living on River Malaba banks in Buteba and Busitema sub-counties in Busia and Tororo District are at risk due to consumption of suspected poisoned fish.
River Malaba flows into River Nampologoma, which also discharge waters into Lake Kyoga.
When Daily Monitor visited the area on Friday, residents were seen picking dead fish of different species floating on the waters.
Some residents reported cases of diarrhoea, vomiting, excessive sweating and abnormal salivation after feasting on the cold-blooded vertebrate.
Mr John Masaba, a resident of Bugayi Village in Busia, said he started experiencing stomach pain a day after eating the fish.
“I started experiencing stomach ache. I took some tablets and I became okay,” Mr Masaba said.
Mr Leonard Wandera, another resident, also said he experienced general body weakness.
“I became weak after feasting on the fish but it was not for so long before I normalised,” he said.

Doctor’s view
Dr Emma Oyese, the in-charge of Bugobero health centre IV in Manafwa District, said eating poisoned fish can be dangerous depending on the type of chemicals used.
“But I cannot conclusively say how dangerous it can be until samples have been done and the type of poison is found,” he said.
Mr Abdu Famba, a resident of Bugayi village, said dead fish started floating on the river on Thursday last week.
“We started collecting it and others sold to markets in Busitema and neighbouring areas,” he said.
In Iyolwa Sub-county in Tororo District, the residents were seen picking dead fish on the river.
Mr Joseph Eroti, a resident of Manakor village in Buteba Sub-county, said they picked both mature and immature fish from the river.
“We picked tilapias, mud fish, cat fish in large quantities and we were having feasts at our homes while others sold them in markets,” Mr Eroti said.
Mr Johnson Erenyu, the Busia District natural resources officer confirmed the development.
“A lot of fish died in River Malaba due to unknown causes and residents picked for consumption,” Mr Erenyu, said.

Tests to be done
Mr Erenyu said they have collected water samples from the river to send to Mbale central government laboratory for analysis before coming up with a conclusion on what might have caused the massive death of fish.
Mr Erenyu, however, said some unscrupulous fishermen could have used lethal chemical to intoxicate the fish and make an easy kill.
“They could have done this out of greed to make quick money, which has now endangered the lives of the consumers,” he said.
Mr Richard Kiiza, a resident, however, blamed the death of fish on the pollution a nearby factory which he said distils spirits and releases waste into the river.
“The factory releases the waste into the river. We have tried to raise the issue with the factory officials but they have been adamant,” he said.
Mr Peter Etometi, the local council one chairperson for Manakor Village, said the distillery had released huge effluents into the river at night before the fish started dying the following day.

Factory says no
However, Mr Moody, who identifies himself as a manager of the factory, denies the distillery was behind the pollution.
“The stories of death of fish were a fabrication by some residents who were opposed to the benefits the factory had brought to the people in the area,” he said.
Mr Johnson Erenyu, the natural resource officer, said as district, they will meet the factory officials over the matter.