FISHERIES: Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Helen Nakimuli has asked government to table regulations to operationalise the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act.
MP Nakimuli raised the concern last week on Thursday March 30th 2023, during the 21st sitting of the 3rd meeting of the 2nd session of the 11th Parliament.
Hon. Nakimuli told the house that the Minister of Fisheries has not yet tabled the guidelines to allow the full operationalisation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act which was recently asserted by the President.
“When the Law is passed and signed by the President, regulations are supposed to be made by the line Minister, we are wondering why this is taking long because it was gazatted and we are supposed to see what happens after that. There are no regulations, the Minister is quite and all this is being done to our people. Can we have the regulations in place so that the Law is put to use?” Hon Nakimuli stated on the floor of Parliament.
However, the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja responded and assured the Hon. Nakimuli that, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is coming up with regulations to operationalise the Fisheries Act.
“MAAIF will come here and table these regulations to acquit ourselves and also if there is anything adding value to the regulations.” Prime Minister Nabbanja said.
Recently, Law makers from island communities welcomed the signing of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2022 into law.
President Museveni assented to the bill, which he had initially declined to sign, returning it to the August House for reconsideration.
The bill, which was first passed by Parliament in May of 2022, seeks to consolidate and reform the law related to the management of fisheries, fisheries products and aquaculture.
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