By Ambrose Niwagaba Katoto
Fishermen at Kijangi landing site in Hoima district have lamented that continued disregard of proper management of Plastic wastes on Lake Albert in Hoima district has endangered fish production.
Although there is no research to show how much plastic wastes are in Lake Albert, especially bottles, damaged plastic foot wear, jerrycans, basins, polythene bags among others, fishermen at Kijangi landing site in Hoima district say continued disposal has affected production of fish.
Fred Bigirwa, the Kijangi Village chairperson says that the plastic wastes have greatly affected aquatic lives leading to a decline in the fish production since fish normally breed at the lake shores.
Bigirwa, says that as leaders they have tried to fight against plastics by burning them but because they are very many end up in waters.
“We normally do a general cleaning once in a week but it is not enough, if we can get a pit where people can collect and dump these plastic wastes, it would be easy for us to manage”, Fred Bigirwa, the Kijangi Village chairperson said.
Martin Musoke, a fisherman at Kijangi landing site in Tonya parish says most fishermen at this landing site use plastics to make their nets float on water because they are poor and cannot afford the required floaters.
Mr. Musoke faults leaders and law enforcers for increased plastic waste disposal at Lake Albert.
Jena Ndahura, aged 54 and a fisherman at this landing site says fishing is no longer profitable.
“we used to get more fish during at the start of the month up to when the moon comes out but nowadays things are not going on as they used to be”, Jena Ndahura a fisherman said
Chairman Bigirwa has asked manufacturers to come up with alternative materials which can decompose.
“We would request government and manufacturers to start making things that can compose after use,” Fred Bigirwa, the Kijangi Village chairperson requested.
Annet Faida, the woman parish councilor for Tonya Parish says there is a need for adequate community sensitization.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, More than 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced globally every year.
