Bakenyi Community Secures Shs 1 Billion Lifeline as Government Moves to Heal Kyoga Fishing Wounds

 November 17, 2025   |    38 views

By Our Reporter

KYERE, SERERE DISTRICT— The long-marginalized Bakenyi community of Lake Kyoga has received a rare and decisive government nod, with Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, announcing a Shs 1 billion allocation to directly support their recovery from the lingering effects of the fishing ban.

The announcement, made during the recent  burial of Anna Maria Isiga in Ameese village, Kyere Sub-county, signaled a major shift from mere enforcement to concrete rehabilitation of communities whose livelihoods were disrupted by the crackdown on illegal fishing.

Hon. Adoa revealed that the funding forms part of a larger Shs 30 billion intervention targeting fishing communities across the country. She noted that she personally petitioned the President to ring-fence support for the Bakenyi—one of the groups hardest hit by the ban and historically overlooked in mainstream development programmes.

“For years, these people bore the brunt of the ban. It is only fair that government cushions them as they rebuild,” she said, drawing applause from mourners and local leaders.

The Bakenyi, whose lifeline has always been tied to the waters of Lake Kyoga, have endured severe economic setbacks since the enforcement operations began. Many families have struggled with food insecurity, school dropout rates have risen, and alternative sources of income remain scarce.

Local leaders welcomed the allocation as a long-awaited breakthrough, saying it signals the beginning of a deliberate effort to restore dignity and economic activity among the Bakenyi.

Community representatives expressed hope that the funds—if well managed—will support livelihood projects, restocking initiatives, and skills training to help families transition into sustainable fishing and non-fishing enterprises.

For the Bakenyi of Kyere, the Shs 1 billion is more than a financial injection; it is a long-overdue recognition of their struggle and a promise of renewed stability after years of uncertainty on the shores of Lake Kyoga.