Uganda’s fisheries sector has long been a cornerstone of livelihoods, nutrition, and local economies, supporting over 5 million Ugandans, according to the Economic Policy Research Center. Yet recent enforcement actions around silverfish (mukene) are exposing a troubling reality. Behind regulatory intentions lie a growing crisis for small- scale fishing communities, especially women.
The recent enforcement actions in Uganda’s silverfish (mukene) sector are raising more questions than answers. While the need to regulate fisheries is not in dispute, the manner in which these measures are being implemented is quietly eroding livelihoods, particularly for women, and undermining food security.
Across fishing communities around Lake Victoria in Mukono, Wakiso, Buikwe, Buvuma and Kalangala, recent evidence highlights that silverfish fishers are being blocked from accessing fishing grounds, amid inconsistent and often contradictory directives from authorities. In some areas, such as Kalangala, local leaders have communicated a blanket ban on silverfish, while in others like Buikwe, enforcement has targeted specific practices such as light fishing leaving communities uncertain about what is actually permitted and what is not. What is unfolding is not just enforcement, it is disruption of an entire value chain that thousands depend on for survival.
Women form the backbone of Uganda’s small pelagic fisheries, making up over 60 per cent of the labour force, especially in post- harvest activities such as drying, processing and trading. Silverfish, in particular, is not a luxury product. It is one of the most affordable sources of protein for low- income households and contributes significantly to national fish production.
When access to this fish is restricted, the consequences are immediate. Household incomes shrink, food becomes less accessible, and already vulnerable communities are pushed further to the margins. For many women, this is not just a policy issue, it is a question of daily survival.
The bigger concern, however, lies in how these measures are being enforced. Restrictions that are unclear, inconsistently applied, or poorly communicated risk creating fear and uncertainty rather than compliance. Enforcement without engagement does little to promote sustainability; instead, it alienates the very communities that are critical to responsible and sustainable fisheries management.
Uganda has demonstrated its commitment to promoting gender equality and safeguarding the right to food through the National Gender Policy (2007), as well as constitutional guarantees under Articles 21, 32, and 33. The commitment on the right to food is further reinforced by the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy particularly Objective XXII which obliges the State to promote food production and storage, establish national food reserves, and ensure proper nutrition. Yet, current developments in the silverfish sector suggest a disconnect between policy objectives and practice. Sustainable fisheries cannot be achieved through enforcement alone. They require trust, transparency, and the meaningful involvement of small- scale actors, especially women in the fisheries sector who largely depend on small fish species like mukene. Without this, well- intentioned regulations risk becoming instruments of exclusion rather than tools for development.
The question policymakers must confront is simple; can enforcement without engagement sustain the fisheries sector?
A more balanced approach is urgently needed one that combines regulation with inclusion, safeguards livelihoods while promoting sustainability, and ensures that enforcement does not come at the expense of basic human rights.
Kagimu Shafic
Head of Programs FIAN Uganda
skagimu@fianuganda.org