Uganda and Kenya have agreed to improve fish transit from Lake Turkana to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During a four-day discussion held at Busia, it was agreed that the Uganda Government compensates fish traders from Kenya for the fish that was confiscated last year at Mpondwe border enroute to DR Congo.
In a joint statement signed by Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, the permanent secretary ministry of agriculture, and his counterpart, Dr Francis Owino, the two governments also agreed to work out a mechanism for transportation of Kenyan fish through Uganda up to Mpondwe border post.
Bilateral technical joint committee
A multi- agency team will in Marsabit, Samburu and Turkana counties that border Lake Turkana will be formed to come up with the for evacuation of fish from Lake Turkana on transit to the DR Congo through Uganda by March 11, this year.
“A bilateral technical joint committee, headed by the directors of fisheries management, will meet virtually on March 25 to harmonize the mechanisms developed by the multi-agency teams,” the statement reads.
At the Beach Management Unit stores at Kalokol, the officials observed that different species of fish, including Nile tilapia, mango tilapia, red belly tilapia, hydrocynus (tiger fish), Alestes, cowfish and others were sundried and clean.
They also found large quantities of fish that was well-packed in bales, both in small quantities of undersized Nile tilapia and Nile perch. The delegation learnt that the market in DR Congo prefers small-size fish.
The meeting was organized to enable officials from both countries to interact with the stakeholders along the fish value chain and to identify issues that impede smooth fish trade from Kenya to DR Congo through Uganda.
