State Minister for Fisheries Reflects on LEAFAO Achievements and Challenges During Tenure

Hon. Hellen Adoa, Uganda's State Minister for Fisheries and outgoing Chairperson of the Lake Edward, Lake Albert Fisheries, and Aquaculture Organisation (LEAFAO), delivered a comprehensive report on the organization's progress and challenges during her leadership.

Speaking at the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers at Sultan Hotel in Kinshasa, DRC, Minister Adoa highlighted both the milestones achieved and the obstacles faced by LEAFAO in promoting sustainable fisheries management.

Among the key achievements during her tenure, Minister Adoa pointed to the successful organization of three LEAFAO Council of Ministers' meetings, including a hybrid session during the handover of chairmanship from Hon. John Mulimba, Uganda's Minister of State for Regional Cooperation.

She also underscored the development of essential governance documents, including the Financial Rules and Staff Rules of LEAFAO, as well as the establishment of the organization's Secretariat office in Kajjansi, Entebbe, Uganda.

The deployment of the Executive Director and Deputy to the Secretariat was another significant milestone, positioning LEAFAO to better coordinate regional fisheries management.

Despite these successes, Minister Adoa acknowledged several challenges that have impeded the organization's effectiveness.

Among them were limited funding for LEAFAO activities, difficulties in enforcing fisheries regulations across both lakes, and ongoing conflicts between fishing operators in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

These issues, she noted, have hindered the full realization of LEAFAO's goals in ensuring sustainable fishing practices and fostering regional cooperation.

Minister Adoa emphasized the critical need for LEAFAO to strengthen regional collaboration and enhance capacity building for fisheries management and development.

She called for the promotion of sustainable fishing practices and the addressing of environmental concerns as central pillars of LEAFAO's future work.

To overcome the challenges identified, Minister Adoa recommended the development of a robust resource mobilization strategy to secure additional funding for LEAFAO's initiatives.

She also urged the organization to bolster enforcement mechanisms for fisheries regulations in both Lake Edward and Lake Albert, and to foster dialogue between fishing communities in Uganda and the DRC to mitigate conflicts.