Fishers on Lakes Edward and George allege they are being charged up to Shs7 million for licences officially priced at Shs150,000, prompting a minister to order police investigations into the alleged extortion.
Fishermen and women operating on Lakes Edward and George in Kasese District have accused individuals involved in landing site management of demanding millions of shillings for fishing licences, despite the official fee being Shs150,000.
The allegations have prompted State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Robert Ndugwa, to call for police investigations, warning that the reported payments undermine government efforts to regulate the fishing industry and protect the livelihoods of ordinary fishers.
According to the affected fishers, some applicants are being asked to pay between Shs4 million and Shs7 million to secure licences amid restrictions on the number of boats authorised to operate at designated landing sites.
The restrictions are intended to regulate fishing activities and improve the management of fisheries resources on the two lakes.
However, the limited number of available boat slots has heightened competition among fishers seeking authorisation to operate.
Ndugwa said he had received accounts from elderly women who claimed to have paid millions of shillings to obtain licences.
“I have received testimonies from old women saying they pay up to four, five and seven million shillings to get a licence which is supposed to be Shs150,000. That is unacceptable,” Ndugwa said.
He said police had been directed to investigate the allegations and identify those suspected of demanding unlawful payments.
“I have told the police to investigate the matter and establish the people involved in this extortion. They must be punished,” he added.
The minister also called on relevant officials to provide accurate records of money collected from fishers to establish whether the licensing procedures and prescribed fees had been followed.
The alleged payments have raised concerns about the affordability and transparency of the licensing process, particularly for small-scale fishers who depend on the lakes for their livelihoods.
Ndugwa questioned how government efforts to bring communities into the money economy could succeed if fishers were subjected to such financial demands.
“These activities are meant to get the people into the money economy, but if this continues to happen, then how will they get there?” he asked.
Local leaders have also called for a review of the licensing arrangements, arguing that restrictions must be enforced fairly while protecting the interests of Ugandan fishers and ensuring the sustainable management of the lakes.
Kakule raised concerns about fishing activities across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which shares Lake Edward with Uganda.
“We share Lake Edward with DRC, but while there are restrictions on our Ugandan side, the Congolese are fishing anyhow, yet there is no way you can control the movement of fishing such that it doesn't move up to the Congo side,” Kakule said.
His remarks point to concerns among local leaders about how restrictions imposed on the Ugandan side affect domestic fishers when fishing activities continue across the international border.
Kasese District Woman MP Sarah Ithungu urged fishers who had not secured licences to follow the official application procedures and await consideration when another batch of boat allocations becomes available.
“If anyone has not yet paid for the licence, let them do so such that they are considered during the next batch of boat allocation,” Ithungu said.
Her advice comes as fishers affected by the restrictions seek opportunities to continue their trade, with some reportedly struggling to secure the limited number of authorised boat slots.
The controversy has renewed calls for greater transparency in the allocation of fishing licences on Lakes Edward and George.
Authorities are under pressure to establish whether the alleged demands for millions of shillings occurred, identify those responsible if wrongdoing is confirmed and ensure that access to fishing opportunities follows official procedures rather than unauthorised payments.