Operators at Masese Landing Site say proposed registration and licensing charges will increase their costs, urging the government to prioritise life jackets, rescue services and other water safety measures.
Boat operators and fishermen at Masese Landing Site in Jinja City have opposed proposed registration and licensing charges totalling Shs450,000 for passenger boats, urging the government to provide life jackets and other safety equipment instead of imposing additional costs.
The operators argue that the proposed fees would increase their financial burden, as they already pay taxes, fishing licences, parking fees and other charges imposed by local governments and regulatory authorities.
They also accuse the government of investing more in road transport infrastructure while neglecting the safety needs of communities that depend on lakes for transport and their livelihoods.
The concerns emerged during a sensitisation campaign by the Ministry of Works and Transport to engage fishermen and boat operators on regulations governing inland water transport under the Inland Water Transport Act, 2021.
The campaign aims to improve safety, regulate boat operations and streamline activities on Uganda’s inland waterways.
Fred Barasa Nderema, the acting assistant commissioner for ships, ports and security in the ministry’s Maritime Administration Department, said passenger boats would be required to undergo inspection and licensing before being allowed to operate.
Under the proposed arrangement outlined during the engagement, passenger boats would pay a one-off registration fee of Shs200,000 and an annual licensing fee of Shs250,000, bringing the initial cost to Shs450,000.
The ministry needs to clarify whether the registration charge would apply only once and whether the annual licensing fee would remain unchanged in subsequent years.
Barasa said all boats would first be inspected by the Ministry of Works and Transport before being categorised according to their intended use.
“All boats are supposed to be inspected by the Ministry of Works and Transport. Upon inspection, we shall categorise them. Those used for leisure, passenger and cargo transport shall be licensed by the Ministry of Works and Transport, whereas those used for fishing shall be licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF),” Barasa said.
However, operators say they are already struggling to meet the costs of running their businesses and fear the additional charges could make water transport more expensive.
John Bosco Akera, head of Swim Safe Jinja, said operators pay several fees, including fishing licences, parking fees and landing-site licences imposed by local governments.
Akera warned that the proposed Shs450,000 initial charge could be difficult for operators whose earnings depend on daily passenger traffic and fishing activities.
The operators are asking the government to reconsider the fees and ensure that the regulations do not impose an unsustainable financial burden on their businesses.
John Walusansa, chairperson of passenger boat operators at Masese Landing Site, urged the government to provide life jackets rather than introduce additional charges.
He argued that people operating on the lake deserved the same level of government attention as those using road transport.
“On the mainland, the government is tarmacking roads and installing streetlights, but on the lake, nothing is being done. Since we also pay taxes, the government should instead provide us with life jackets annually,” Walusansa said.
He added that the cost of purchasing good-quality life jackets was beyond the reach of some operators, making it difficult to equip their boats adequately.
According to Walusansa, an adult life jacket costs between Shs80,000 and Shs150,000. He said operators with limited financial resources often struggle to buy enough life jackets for their passengers, exposing travellers to greater risks in the event of an accident.
The operators want the government to incorporate the provision of life-saving equipment into its water safety interventions alongside the enforcement of registration and licensing requirements.
Dennis Okwai, officer in charge of the Marine Police in Jinja, said boat operators had also raised concerns about the cost of registration and licensing during enforcement operations.
Okwai said several operators had asked authorities to reconsider the charges, arguing that the fees were too high.
He also identified the use of life jackets as a persistent challenge, noting that many boat operators do not provide them to passengers. Even where the equipment is available, some passengers refuse to wear it, complaining that it is dirty or unsuitable, he said.
The concerns point to the need for greater awareness among operators and passengers about the importance of wearing life jackets, as well as improved access to properly maintained safety equipment.
Water transport remains an important means of movement and a source of livelihood for communities around Lake Victoria. However, inadequate safety equipment and resistance to safety measures continue to pose challenges to efforts to reduce fatalities in water accidents.
Responding to the concerns, Barasa said the ministry would submit the issues raised by fishermen and boat operators to the relevant authorities for consideration.
He said consultations had been conducted in different parts of the country to gather stakeholders’ views on the proposed regulations before the concerns are consolidated at a national consultation in Kampala.
“We have been conducting these consultations across the country. We shall consolidate the views during the national consultation in Kampala, where we shall also present the ideas and concerns raised in the different areas,” Barasa said.
Barasa also said the government had provided three boats to support rescue operations for people involved in water accidents in the Jinja area.
The boats are expected to strengthen emergency response efforts, although operators continue to call for additional safety interventions, particularly the provision of life jackets.
As the government moves towards implementing the regulations, boat operators want authorities to balance enforcement of safety standards with affordable licensing requirements.
They argue that improved access to life-saving equipment, stronger rescue services and public awareness about water safety should accompany regulation of operations on Uganda’s inland waterways.
For operators at Masese, the central concern is that the new rules should deliver tangible improvements in safety while allowing those who depend on Lake Victoria for transport and their livelihoods to continue operating.