Six fish farming groups in Amolatar district on October 7 received fishing equipment under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP).

The beneficiary groups are Manyanga Bangala Fishing Group, Bangala Fishing Group, Kasubi Mukene Productive, Biko Fishing Group, Kasubi Mukene Women’s Fishing Group, and Kayago Fishing Group.

Each group received 750 fishing nets with mesh size 7 and ply 9 and 12, as well as 30 life jackets.

Otoo Okot Alfred, chairperson of Kipangani Landing Site Fishing Association, confirmed the development, saying three others were still awaiting distribution. He added that some groups had not yet received their complete orders.

Katherine Akelo, Chairperson of Bangala Fishing Group Association, welcomed the equipment and thanked all stakeholders who facilitated the provision of the recommended fishing nets under UCSATP.

Moses Janku, chairperson of Manyanga Fishing Group Bangala, also commended the UCSATP coordinator, Dulson Samuel Okello, for ensuring that the groups received the exact fishing nets recommended by the government.

Janku said fishing communities had previously relied on substandard equipment, but now had access to better-quality gear. He appealed to the Amolatar district local government to continue supporting the fishing community to improve productivity.

Dulson Samuel Okello, the UCSATP Focal Point Person for Amolatar and Acting Principal Entomologist, said nine groups had registered for the support, although only six collected their inputs on Wednesday.

He explained that each group contributed 10 million shillings, equivalent to 20 percent of the total cost, while the government contributed shs42 million per group.

Overall, the nine registered groups contributed 20 percent of the shs96 million-shilling project cost, while the government allocated shs385 million to support the fishing group initiative.

Okello said the distribution included 750 fishing nets for each beneficiary group, together with 30 life jackets, adding that the remaining groups would receive their equipment once the outstanding orders were completed.