Lake Bunyonyi only nice to the eyes, not our livelihood - locals

Residents leaving around Lake Bunyonyi have appealed to government to support them in promoting fishing activities on the country's iconic lake for economic development.

Straddling the south-western districts of Kabale and Kisoro, Bunyonyi is famed for its beauty.

It is the pride of not only south-western Ugandans but also the nation at large, having graced the Shs5,000 central bank note between 2004 and 20o9.

Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda's third-deepest lake after Victoria and Mutanda, hosts 29 islands, each with a unique story.

However, locals say the beauty and rich tales about Lake Bunyonyi only ends in fleeting feelings; they have not benefited much from its natural endowment.

Keneth Tumusiime, who lives in one of the villages around Bunyonyi, says that as locals they have not benefited much from the lake compared to other Ugandans living on islands and around Lake Victoria.

“The Ministry of Fisheries tried to introduce some fish species but it was not successful since the lake is very deep," Tumusiime said.

He appealed to government to introduce different fish species in Lake Bunyonyi to benefit the local community.

He further adds that the government can also introduce industrialisation around the lake so that the economy can be boosted.

John Byaruhanga, another resident operating around the lake, noted that the government should not only remember people leaving around Bunyonyi only during election time but rather there should be proper planning in terms of improving the economy.

Some locals suggest with frustration that drowning is what they largely know Bunyonyi for.

David Sunday, also a resident, highlighted on the causes leading to increased cases of drowning, saying that there is challenge of overloading  boats yet they are of a small size, even some people desist from putting on live saving jackets.

“Sometimes when it’s too windy, those using canoes cannot cross adding that during that time the lake is usually not safe,” Sunday said.

Dr Alex Saturday, a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture at Kabale University, noted that due to the many islands on the lake, the flow of wind is affected, which in turn affects the mixture of foods fish can feed.

“There is population increase around the lake and since the people around here deal in agricultural activities, when it rains, soil erosion takes place and the lake is contaminated," he said.

Saturday said fertile soils caused by soil erosion can not favor fishing activities on Lake Bunyonyi.