This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
Published on July 13, 2021, a government project to develop fish landing sites in Lake Victoria has stalled, leaving several beaches in dire need of development.
The Lwanda-Kotieno Fish Auction plant, completed in 2011, was part of the government's Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to develop at least six fish landing sites in Lake Victoria.
However, the plant remains stalled, with hyacinth creeping up from the lake, despite the government injecting Sh18 million into the project 10 years ago.
According to Paul Onyango, a businessman at the beach, the beachfront has untapped potential in the tourism and hospitality sector.
"The beachfront is good for establishing hotels and other recreational facilities. But this can only happen if proper planning is conducted in order to avoid demolitions that we've witnessed in the past as the government tries to expand the beaches," said Mr Onyango.
At Usenge beach, there is only one toilet, serving more than 1,000 fishermen and traders, posing a serious health hazard, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite its strategic location as an entry point for fish harvested in Busia County, Uganda and Tanzania, Usenge beach has remained largely underdeveloped, with stakeholders blaming the unregulated sale of fish as the major cause of underdevelopment.
According to Bondo Sub-County Beach Management Unit (BMU) Network Chairman Johannes Gaunye, the sale of fish in undesignated beaches denies the lobby revenue.
"The sale of fish in undesignated beaches does not only deny our beaches commission but also a big loss to boat owners," explained Gaunye.
Usenge BMU Vice-chairman John Ochieng said that they charge Sh2 per kilo of fish that lands at the beach, but the daily collection is unpredictable, as it depends on the day's catch.
At Asembo Bay, which was once a vibrant fish trading hub for Gem, Ugenya, Alego and Seme residents, things are not any different, with the area's economic fortunes having dwindled drastically over the past three decades.
