ALBERT

Description: Uganda has been able to achieve increasing growth rates of up to 7% per annum over the last five years under the Government's reforms programmes set up to redress economic imbalances through economic rehabilitation, growth and development (MPED 1987). The main objective of these reform programmes is to achieve GDP growth rate of at least 5% and reduce inflation rate to 15% by the end of June, 1993 (MFEP 1992). However, there is now the problem of sustaining this high growth rate, much of which has been achieved from the agriculture sector. Falling world prices for the major agricultural products, namely coffee and cotton, coupled with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions in the country have led to major fluctuations in the performance of the agricultural sector over the years, and thus in the overall performance of the economy. In 1991/92 financial year, for example the growth rate in the economy fell from 3.9% in the previous year to 1.8%, while within agriculture it fell from 2.6% to -1.5%. This fall has been attributed to the factors mentioned above.There has been a growing concern over this situation and the Government has been exploring' avenues for expanding and diversifying the economic base of the country away from the traditional agricultural crops.

Description: The fisheries resources of Lakes Albert and Kyoga present a high potential for economic growth, food, employment and foreign earnings. However, livelihoods appear to be compromised with the emergence and rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the fisher communities of L. Albert and Kyoga. HIV/AIDS is considered a silent epidemic that is unique, posing a great challenge to the fisheries managers, health service providers, development planners and the resource users themselves. Fishers have high HIV prevalence, as well as AIDS-related illnesses and mortality rates. The high HIV prevalence rates among the fishing communities in Uganda is between 10-40% compared to the national rates which lie between 6% and 7%. This indicates that the national programmes have not adequately addressed the plight of the fishing communities of Lakes Albert, and Kyoga and the consequences have been devastating. Men and women living in fishing villages across the world have been found to be between five and ten times more vulnerable to the disease than other communities (Tarzan et al 2005, FAO, 2007). The present prevalence rates among the fishing communities stands at 10 to 40 % (LVFO, 2008). Meanwhile the same fishing communities are the essential labour for the Lakes’ fishery industry which is thriving nationally and internationally. That resource potentially can alleviate poverty and the HIV/AIDS threat. Fishing communities are the hidden victims of the disease, mixing patterns with the general population could act as a reservoir of infection that could spill over into the general population to drive the epidemic. On L. Albert, a quarter of the fisher folk were HIV-positive by 1992 compared to 4% in a nearby Agricultural village. Since then, there have been no targeted studies to address or monitor the prevalence rates eight years later, yet the multiplicity factor is high.HIV/AIDS can be linked to unsustainable fisheries, as the labour force available would not go to deep waters to fish, instead would fish in the shallow waters as a coping mechanism. A further effect is the loss to National and local economies and reduced nutritional security for the wider population. HIV/AIDS remains a significant challenge that has created a mosaic of complexity in the fishery sector. This needs to be addressed. It is, therefore, paramount that a comprehensive study was under taken to address this pandemic and the phenomenon of HIV/AIDS based on the study objectives.1. To determine the trend in HIV/AIDS infection among fishing communities and the factors affecting it2. To assess the impacts of HIV/AIDS on fish production and the implications for fisheries management.

Description: The workshop began at 10:45 a.m. with introductory remarks made by the District Fisheries Officer, Luwero. He welcomed the participants and thanked them for sparing time to come and attend the workshop despite their busy schedules. He expressed concern that the district had lost revenue and supply of fish from Lake Kyoga after the formation of Nakasongola District and that as a result, the population in the district now, largely fed on fish frames from Kampala fish factories. The convenor of the workshop requested the Director of FIRRI to be the chairman for all the workshop sessions.

Description: The brochure is to contribute to the overall goal of stimulating the adaptation of pro-poor agri-food systems innovations to improve food security and sustainable natural resource management among rural poor farmers. The paper seeks to identify and exploit opportunities for expanding market access for minor crops and NRM products. The minor crops studied included cow pea, sorghum, groundnut, sweet potato and yam.

Description: The presenter emphasized that his expectation was that the participants would discuss and review the interim findings from FIRRI with the view of strengthening the findings. He explained that FIRRI's role was to provide information on theimpact of fish exports on the artisanal fish producers, traders, processors and consumers with respect to the costs and earnings by developing a sector-wide and detailed models of selected landings sites on Lakes Victoria, Kyoga andAlbert

Description: The study is prompted by the poverty that has persisted among the fishing communities of Lake Victoria at a time of considerable cash inflow into the fisheries from the development of the fish processing industry. There has been need for an understanding of the poverty and what strategies would be most appropriate for its reduction. This study has attempted torespond to the need by identifying the nature and distribution of the poverty within thefisheries of Lake Victoria, Uganda, the factors responsible for it and the options for povertyreduction intervention.

Description: 1. The objective of this report is to contribute informationand recommendations aimed at strengthening theparticipation of stakeholders and local communities in theimplementation of the Lake Victoria Environment ManagementProgram.2. It is based on consultations carried out in the ninedistricts bordering Lake Victoria, namely Tororo, Iganga,Jinja, Mukono, Mpigi, Masaka, Rakai and Kalangala, at whichmeetings, discussions and participatory research activitieswere carried out with a wide cross section of stakeholders,community leaders and development workers at differentlevels.3. The key stakeholders and local communitiesorganisations relevant for the thematic areasLVEMP were identified and they include:i. Fishing and lakeside communities who operate under their LC leadership and are often organised intofishermen groups with UFFCA as the apex association.ii. Fish processing industrialists, represented by theUganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association andare also members of UMA.iii. Farming communities operating within the villages,represented by their LCs and such special interestgroups as women, youth, tree planting, commercialfarmers, etc. and many of them operate under the apexof UNFA.iv. Urban authorities are formed into the Uganda UrbanAuthorities Association.v. Industrialists who belong to USSIA or UMA, dependingon their size of operation.vi. NGOs working with communities in the field of socialand economic development.vii. Government institutions particularly at the districtlevel and below, who are at the frontline with thecommunities in the implementation of the Program.v iii. Other small groups but whose interests need to be taken into consideration in aspects of the Program.