KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda has introduced stricter regulations governing the fishing of mukene, limiting operations to just 14 days each month as the government moves to protect fish stocks and control fishing methods considered harmful to aquatic life.
The new guidelines, announced by State Minister for Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Migadde on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, also impose fresh requirements on fishing vessels, equipment, crew sizes and licensing.
Under the regulations issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, fishermen will only be permitted to harvest mukene, also known as silverfish, during the first 14 days of the moon’s dark phase each month.
The restrictions are part of a broader effort to promote sustainable fishing practices while allowing eligible fishing communities to resume operations following earlier government interventions against destructive fishing methods.
Migadde said fishing vessels targeting mukene must measure at least 24 feet in total length and carry no more than two crew members. Each boat will also be restricted to a single scoop net, commonly known as chota chota, mounted on a wooden ring measuring no more than five feet in diameter.
The approved nets must have a mesh size of at least eight millimeters, a requirement intended to regulate the harvesting of silverfish and reduce the capture of other fish species.
The government has maintained its prohibition on lampara nets and other panelled fishing equipment associated with the controversial hurry up fishing method.
That method had raised concerns among fisheries authorities because it was linked to the capture of immature Nile perch, tilapia and other fish species alongside mukene.
The use of solar powered lighting for catching silverfish also remains prohibited. Instead, each licensed fishing vessel will be permitted to operate with a maximum of two kerosene powered lanterns.
Fishing activities must take place at least two kilometers from the shoreline, with fishermen prohibited from operating in bays, fish breeding grounds and other protected areas.
Every vessel will also be required to return to an approved landing site with its catch and fishing equipment on board.
The latest measures follow a series of government interventions aimed at addressing concerns over illegal fishing practices on Uganda’s water bodies.
In February 2024, authorities banned the use of lampara nets that had been modified for the hurry up method. A presidential directive issued in December 2025 subsequently imposed additional restrictions on the use of lighting equipment in silverfish fishing.
Migadde clarified that the earlier restrictions targeted harmful fishing methods rather than the harvesting of mukene itself.
The government has now allowed eligible fishermen to resume operations using approved equipment, although compliance with the new licensing and operational requirements will be mandatory.
Under the revised framework, only fishermen who previously held a silverfish fishing license in 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 will qualify for consideration.
However, possession of an earlier license will not automatically guarantee approval to resume fishing.
Boat owners must first obtain recommendations from their respective Fish Landing Site Fisheries Management Committees before presenting their vessels and equipment to district fisheries authorities for inspection.
The inspections will assess boat ownership, seaworthiness, fishing equipment and compliance with the prescribed requirements.
District fisheries officers will then forward eligible applications for further technical review, with the Chief Fisheries Officer responsible for approving licenses and permits.
District authorities must also submit lists of designated landing sites where mukene fishing activities will be permitted.
The guidelines give preferential consideration to traditional fishing communities operating within their respective areas, although applicants must still satisfy the licensing conditions.
Foreign fishing vessels will not be permitted to operate in Ugandan waters under the new framework.
The government has also outlined a national licensing calendar, with landing site committees expected to recommend eligible fishermen during November, followed by vessel inspections and technical assessments in December.
The review and registration process is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, ahead of the licensing period scheduled between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2027.
Compliance enforcement is planned from April through December, while the Chief Fisheries Officer is expected to publish a national register of licensed fishermen.
The regulations are being implemented under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, Cap 314, which provides the legal framework for managing and protecting Uganda’s fisheries resources.
For fishing communities, the decision creates an opportunity to return to a trade that supports fishermen, processors, transporters and market vendors. However, the tighter restrictions could also require adjustments to fishing schedules, equipment and operating costs.
Some traders have previously expressed concern about the economic effects of restrictions on mukene fishing, particularly among women whose livelihoods depend on the trade.
Authorities maintain that the new measures are necessary to balance economic activity with the protection of fish breeding areas and the long term sustainability of the country’s fisheries.
The ministry has warned fishermen against operating without the required authorization, while landing sites that fail to comply with the approved fishing methods risk closure.
The new rules mean that mukene fishing can resume under regulated conditions, but fishermen will have to observe the monthly fishing window, use approved equipment and obtain the necessary licenses before taking to the water
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