Fishermen count losses as weeds take over the Nile River

For over 25 years, Mr. Marco Onegalit has depended on fishing as the most reliable source of income for his family.

Through this business, he was able to pay school fees for his children and other dependents, pay medical bills, and build a decent home.

He also hoped to expand his business, but the future now looks bleak.

His daily fish catch and sales have dropped sharply due to invasive weeds that have covered almost all fishing areas at the Amor landing site in the Pakwach region.

Speaking to this publication over the weekend, Mr Onegalit said: “We cannot easily move boats on the Nile River because weeds have taken up most of the space. The weed blocked the entrance to the Pakwach Bridge.

He added: “Fish stocks have also declined and it has become difficult to catch fish and sell them in large quantities. I would earn Sh500,000 a day from selling fish, but now for the last three months I am earning about Sh220,000 a day. This has created a financial dilemma for me because I need to pay for my children’s education.”

Invasive papyrus weeds, which moved from the Albert Nile to Panyimur and feed on the Nile River, have blocked much of the water area. This makes it difficult for fishermen to row. Fishermen also say papyrus weed suffocates fish because it doesn’t contain enough oxygen to support aquatic animals.

“I used to catch three buckets of fish a day, but now I only need one bucket. As you paddle, you’ll have to constantly dodge weeds. Sometimes there are snakes in the weeds, which are also dangerous to our lives,” Mr. Onegalit explained.

Another fisherman, Mr Nixon Opoka, said he used to earn about Sh250,000 every day, but now he barely earns Sh100,000 a day. “This weed has added to our problems because we are also struggling with UPDF Marine operations, loans and now weeds.”

Mr Opoka said the landing site, where there used to be about 70 fishermen, was now down to about 45. He said some of them had gone out of business due to the ongoing crackdown on illegal fishing gear, loans, invasive weeds and businesses low in fish.

“It is now difficult to eat fish and run a fishing business in Pakwach because fish stocks have declined due to natural factors and government policies that discourage fishermen from fishing. This has driven some of my colleagues out of business and is increasing poverty. in households,” Mr Opoka added.

One of the fish traders in Pakwach town, Mrs Dorothy Aceng, said the weeds on the Nile River have not only affected fishermen but also fish traders who now travel long distances to source fish outside Pakwach town.

She said this has impacted their profits. “We get fish from Ntoroko area because there is no longer enough fish in Pakwache. A kilo of fresh fish now costs Sh18,000 instead of Sh12,000. This has forced some fish traders out of the fishing business,” Ms Aceng said.

A resident of Pakwach Town Council, Mr. Benson Olindi, said that due to the water being covered, some tasty fish seasonings such as electric fish, yellow fish and angara on the Nile River are disappearing.

“Getting to Angara has become difficult because most of them are not from this landing site. They can move to another place where their lives are not in danger. A piece of Angara costs Sh25,000 instead of Sh15,000,” he said.

Uganda National Highways Authority (UNRA) Public Relations Officer Allan Ssempebwa said weeds had covered more than 20 acres of Nile River waters in Pakwach district.

He Unra has now deployed the weed removal machine. “We need more machines to remove the accumulated water weeds at Pakwach Bridge, but for now we need financial assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture for more funds,” Mr. Ssempebwa.