By Aggrey Baba
Special presidential assistant on press and mobilization Hajji Faruk Kirunda, has lauded President YK Museveni for decisive action to rescue Uganda’s fisheries and sugar sectors, describing the interventions as a game-changer for livelihoods, national revenue, and ecological sustainability.
Kirunda, through his weekly column explained that recent consultations at State Lodge, Jinja, brought together indigenous fishing communities and sector stakeholders to take charge of managing Lake Victoria and other major water bodies, an initiative which empowers local fishermen to form committees to oversee operations, prevent intrusion by outsiders, and ensure sustainable practices, while the Fisheries Protection Unit focuses on securing border waters.
Government-backed SACCOS will provide poor fishers with boats and gear, freeing them from dependence on exploitative middlemen. He noted that Uganda’s fisheries have expanded dramatically, with over one million people directly in capture fisheries and five million in the wider fish value chain.
This growth, together with overfishing and illegal gear use, has strained the lakes’ ecological balance. Kirunda praised Museveni for ensuring that indigenous communities now lead conservation efforts, treating fishing as a cultural heritage and safeguarding resources for future generations.
On sugarcane farming, Kirunda commended Museveni for promoting large-scale production while guiding smallholders toward intensive, diversified agriculture, including food crops, coffee, livestock, poultry, and fish farming.
Support in the form of fertilizers, tractors, and establishment of the Sugar Council under the 2023 Sugarcane (Amendment) Act will ensure structured growth and efficiency.
Kirunda emphasized that Museveni’s leadership, combined with community involvement and adherence to best practices, is expected to restore the fisheries and sugar industries as key drivers of the country’s economy, benefiting both citizens and the nation at large.
He also highlighted the President’s commitment to national heritage, referencing the visit to Kityerera to honor families of deceased FRONASA comrades. The pledge to transform the area into a model village was described as linking Uganda’s historical struggle for freedom with ongoing development efforts.
