LPA ADVOCACY AND STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS

Lacustrine Protected Areas (LPAs) are in their infancy in Uganda however the need for them has never been greater. Kuokoa works with both national and international partners to formulate socially conscious, effective and sustainable policy for LPAs. In the struggle to curb illegal fishing practices in lake fisheries we focus on bringing fragmented stakeholders together, addressing the challenges facing fishermen in transitioning to sustainable fishing practices and finding solutions to be implemented in both national policy and on a local level.

Kuokoa held its first Stakeholder Summit on the topic of Environmental Conflict Transformation at One Minute South Island Villa on Bulago Island in June 2018. Discussions were held regarding challenges facing fishermen in transitioning to sustainable fishing practices, as well as the strategies that could be implemented in both national policy and the local community in order to ease and speed up the transformation. This summit was particularly effective in addressing an often-fragmented group of government and non-governmental organisations and driving those involved towards a shared goal.

We held our second Stakeholder’s strategy workshop on the the topic of Implementation of the LPA in January 2021. There were lengthy discussions on security, research and education from very well respected scientists, members of the UPDF and research centers. Please read our report here.

Holding these events provides support for all our other initiatives. It extends the LPA support network, allows us to consolidate efforts between fragmented parties and gives Kuokoa the opportunity to engage a number of local councils and communities in a forum that facilitates important discourse and immediate feedback. Many thanks to the University of East Anglia in the UK for funding additional workshops held in 2021.

With the continued development and implementation of Kuokoa’s LPA initiatives we are able to engage government increasingly effectively as we can actually demonstrate the success of our LPA concept. Through the careful documentation of our progress and reflection upon their successes and challenges we have been able, and will continue to strengthen our position for advocating to government decision makers about the need for the LPA and the rollout of fishermen’s co-operatives to assist the transformation of the industry which is needed in order to protect and stabilise East Africa’s most important fishery. Momentum is building as we strengthen Kuokoa’s vision and strategy. The outcomes of these workshops provide the foundation for further partnership opportunities with government organisations in Uganda and academic partners in the UK and East Africa which can further the agenda of socially just conservation in the region.