The government has reopened four of the 12 landing sites in Masaka District that were closed nine years ago, sparking mixed reactions from political leaders and fishing communities. The reopening followed lobbying by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer for Bukoto East Member of Parliament, Ms Sarah Kityo, and Ms Joan Nalule, an aspirant for the Masaka District Woman Member of Parliament seat.
The reopened landing sites include Makonzi, Mitondo, Nakitokolo, and Kisuku, which are all located in Bukakkata Sub-county. While announcing the development on Thursday at Makonzi landing site, the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) commandant, Lt Col Mercy Tukahirwa, said the sites are allowed to resume normal operations on condition that fishermen strictly adhere to fishing regulations. She also ordered the immediate removal of roadblocks that had been erected on roads leading to the landing sites to enable smooth operations.
‘If you fail to follow fishing regulations and resume illegal fishing practices, we shall close the landing sites again,’ Lt Col Tukahirwa warned. However, leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Masaka District have criticised the move, describing it as politically motivated given its timing ahead of the 2026 General Election. ‘Our people at the landing sites have suffered under the FPU. Some have died, while others were maimed after being accused of illegal fishing.
Reopening the landing sites now is meant to hoodwink fishermen into voting for President Museveni and NRM candidates, yet the same suffering will resume after the elections,’ said Mr Francis Kimuli, the Masaka District speaker, said. Mr Kimuli argued that if the government genuinely cared about the fishermen’s plight, the landing sites would have been reopened earlier. ‘This is clearly a political move. That is why all fishermen who attended the function were dressed in NRM T-shirts, and the party’s parliamentary flagbearer was present,’ he said.
He added that district leaders had repeatedly appealed for the reopening of the landing sites due to declining district revenue, but their requests were ignored.
Lt Col Tukahirwa dismissed the allegations, saying claims that she is campaigning for the ruling party are baseless. ‘I am only sensitising fishing communities about fishing regulations and best practices. The President deployed me to fight illegal fishing, and that is exactly what I am doing,’ she said. Mr Peter Ssenkungu, the chairperson of the Masaka District Finance Committee, said the district has lost substantial revenue since the fisheries sub-sector, once a major contributor to the district budget, became largely non-functional.
He said reopening the landing sites has long been a recommendation of the district leadership and would significantly improve revenue collection and household incomes among fishing communities. ‘We welcome the reopening, but we caution fishermen against illegal practices. Let them follow regulations, improve sanitation at the landing sites, and work responsibly,’ Mr Ssenkungu said.
In 2017, the government closed more than 20 landing sites across districts bordering Lake Victoria. Of the 18 landing sites in Masaka District, only six are currently operational. Some of the still-closed sites include Kafuga, Kisamba, Kyondo, Kisonzi, Mumpu, and Mutemante in Buwunga Sub-county, as well as Kyasa, Mumpu, and Kakyukyu in Kyanamukaaka Sub-county. Since the closures, fishermen have repeatedly complained of losing their sole source of livelihood, while local leaders said the district lost critical revenue. Businesses such as bars, shops, restaurants, and fuel stations that operated around the landing sites were also forced to shut down.