Uganda: New Mukene Fishing Restrictions Limit Operations to 14 Days Monthly

• Uganda has introduced new restrictions limiting mukene fishing to 14 days per month, starting from the moon's dark phase.
• New regulations mandate a minimum vessel length of 24 feet, one specific type of scoop net, and a maximum of two crew members and two lanterns per boat.
• The use of lampara nets and fishing in specific areas like breeding grounds or within two kilometers of the shoreline is now prohibited.
• A new, multi-stage licensing process requires recommendations from local committees, inspections by District Fisheries Officers, and national-level approval by the Chief Fisheries Officer.
• These measures, announced by Minister Robert Ndugwa Migadde, aim to address sustainability concerns and reorganize the silverfish industry, building on previous bans and presidential directives.

Only fishers who can demonstrate possession of a valid silverfish fishing license issued in 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 will be considered eligible for the updated licensing process.

Uganda has implemented significant new mukene fishing restrictions, limiting operations to just 14 days each month. These stringent measures, announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), specifically target fishers pursuing mukene, also known as ragoogi or muziri, allowing them to operate only during a two-week period commencing with the moon's dark phase. This move aims to bolster the sustainability of the nation's vital silverfish industry.

Beyond the temporal limits, the new MAAIF fishing guidelines Uganda impose strict requirements on fishing vessels and gear. Each boat must now possess a minimum total length of 24 feet and is permitted to carry only a single scoop net, known locally as a chota chota. This net must be mounted on a wooden ring with a maximum diameter of five feet and feature a mesh size of at least eight millimeters. Furthermore, the use of lampara nets and other panelled fishing appliances, previously associated with intensified silverfish fishing methods, is now explicitly prohibited under these new rules. Fishing activities are also banned in water bays, designated fish breeding areas, and within two kilometers of the shoreline. Each vessel is restricted to a maximum of two kerosene-powered lanterns and a crew of two, locally referred to as barias, and must return to the landing site with all catch and gear onboard.

The comprehensive MAAIF fishing guidelines Uganda were publicly unveiled by State Minister for Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Migadde on Tuesday, November 10. A central component of these new regulations is a revised and rigorous mukene fishing license requirements Uganda. Only fishers who can demonstrate possession of a valid silverfish fishing license issued in 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 will be considered eligible for the updated licensing process. Districts are now mandated to provide the ministry with lists of authorized landing sites for mukene, ragoogi, and muziri.

The licensing procedure begins with boat owners seeking recommendations from their local Fish Landing Site Fisheries Management Committees. These committees are responsible for identifying and endorsing eligible indigenous fishers to District Fisheries Officers (DFOs). The DFOs then conduct thorough inspections of fishing equipment, verify boat ownership, assess vessel seaworthiness, and ensure compliance with all fishing gear requirements before forwarding applicant details for national-level review. The Chief Fisheries Officer holds the ultimate authority for technical review and approval of license and permit issuance. Intending fishers have been explicitly warned against resuming operations without completing this new licensing process and securing the necessary authorization. The ministry also retains final authority to approve or reject applications based on scientific, legal, and fishing-capacity management criteria, emphasizing that prior registration, recommendation, fee payment, or even holding a previous license does not guarantee a new one.

These Uganda new mukene fishing restrictions extend beyond silverfish, introducing a general framework for Uganda fishing vessel registration and licensing across the entire sector. The licensing year is standardized from January 1 to December 31, with all applications undergoing vetting and approval prior to license issuance. While preferential consideration is given to traditional indigenous fishing communities in their respective areas, membership in such communities does not automatically guarantee a license, underscoring the strict adherence to the new guidelines. Notably, foreign fishing vessels are explicitly barred from operating in Uganda's waters.

The introduction of these strict Uganda silverfish industry regulations stems from escalating concerns regarding the social, economic, and environmental ramifications of mukene fishing. The ministry indicates that these measures are partly designed to reorganize the silverfish fishery, building upon a February 2024 lampara nets ban Uganda, which targeted modified nets used in 'hurry-up' fishing. Furthermore, the guidelines address a December 2025 Presidential Directive that prohibited the use of solar and other artificial light sources for catching silverfish, highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive regulation of lighting methods in fishing operations.

Lawyers advising Uganda's fishing sector, especially mukene operators, must guide clients on strict compliance with new MAAIF regulations regarding fishing gear, vessel specifications, crew limits, and the updated licensing process to avoid operational disruptions and penalties.

Source: Original reporting via {source}