Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are holding discussions on introducing a shared fishing license for Lake Victoria—an initiative aimed at reducing cross-border arrests and improving coordination on Africa’s largest lake.
Second Eye Africa
For countless generations, the sprawling waters of Lake Victoria have been a vital source of livelihood for communities across East Africa, anchoring local economies and supporting millions.
But tensions have been rising in recent years. Disputes over fishing rights have led to regular incidents—boats confiscated, fishermen detained, and growing accusations of illegal fishing in the tri-border zone shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
In a bid to cool hostilities, the three East African neighbours are advancing long-standing proposals to create a single fishing permit system—a move that could transform governance over this critical body of water.
Speaking during a tour of Kenya’s lakeside regions last week, President William Ruto disclosed that he had dispatched a delegation, led by Cabinet Secretary for Mining and the Blue Economy Hasan Joho, to engage their Ugandan and Tanzanian counterparts and push for a lasting resolution to the maritime boundary row.
“We’re currently engaged in talks with Uganda and Tanzania to explore the possibility of establishing a common fishing license, so we can stop the cycle of arrests and disputes between our fishermen,” he said.
The envisioned joint permit would allow licensed fishers from any of the three nations to operate freely on the lake under harmonised rules and regulations.
It would also standardise monitoring efforts, improve data exchange, and boost enforcement cooperation—allowing the governments to better manage fish stocks, clamp down on illegal activity, and align oversight mechanisms.
Supporters of the plan argue that it could reduce conflict, bring structure to a lake under pressure from environmental degradation, and introduce smarter, cross-border management.
The dialogue is also expected to address the long-simmering dispute between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo Island—one of Lake Victoria’s most contentious flashpoints, often described as Africa’s tiniest war zone.
Migingo, a densely inhabited rocky islet measuring just 2,000 square metres (roughly half an acre), lies in a fish-rich section of the lake. It is home to about 500 people—mostly fishermen living in tin-roofed shacks.
Back in 2009, tensions reached boiling point when Ugandan forces hoisted their flag on the island and began issuing fishing licenses to Kenyan fishermen, sparking a diplomatic standoff and fears of military confrontation.
Although the situation has been intermittently defused through bilateral talks, a lack of formal policy has ensured the dispute endures—with occasional arrests and detentions straining relations.
Covering more than 68,800 square kilometres, Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake globally and supports the livelihoods of over 40 million people. Its fishing industry—valued between $500 million and $800 million annually—revolves around key species like Nile perch and tilapia, according to the African Great Lakes Information Platform.
The lake produces over a million tonnes of fish each year, as per the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, contributing significantly to regional food supplies, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.
Yet, its bounty has come under threat from regulatory gaps, overlapping mandates, and unsustainable practices.
Fishermen crossing unseen maritime boundaries often face detention or asset seizure. In some cases, confrontations have turned violent.
A Ugandan fisherman, for example, operating near Kenyan waters could unknowingly trespass into restricted zones, risking jail or the loss of his boat and gear.
Such incidents are frequently reported in the media, and frustrations among affected communities continue to mount.
“The lake doesn’t recognise political borders,” said Dr. Margaret Achieng, a fisheries researcher based in Kisumu, Kenya. “But our policies have treated it as a divided resource. What’s happening now could be a turning point.”
Experts believe the joint licence could pave the way for broader ecosystem-based management, moving away from reactionary border enforcement.
Still, several questions remain unresolved—how to split licence revenues, coordinate enforcement, and resolve future disputes.
Past attempts at cross-border collaboration, such as the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project launched in 1994, have seen mixed outcomes, often hampered by mistrust and inconsistent follow-through.
Fish stocks have plummeted in parts of the lake over the past 20 years. Research from Uganda’s National Fisheries Resources Research Institute points to a dramatic drop in Nile perch numbers in key areas.
A mix of overexploitation, pollution, and illegal gear use has worsened the situation, leading to economic losses.
In Kenya, the Central Bank reported a 12.07% fall in fish export earnings for 2023, with revenues dropping from Sh6.67 billion ($46.8 million) to Sh5.86 billion ($41.1 million)—a decline of Sh805.29 million ($5.65 million), marking the sharpest dip since 2020.
In the same period, Lake Victoria’s fish output in Kenya fell from 86,400 tonnes in 2022 to 70,300 tonnes in 2023, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Many believe that a shared licence system could be the first step toward deeper regional collaboration in managing shared natural resources.
