SHOCK IN MASINDI AFTER OVER 350 FARMERS’ FISH DIE OF SUSPECTED POISONING

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi—-

Fish farmers in Kabalye A and B in Kabalye1 cell Karijubu division Masindi Municipality are counting losses after finding over 350 of their fish dead.

Speaking to our reporter on Monday at the scene, Siraj Baguma the group chairperson revealed that he was informed by the guard at the pond that some dead fish were floating on the water.

Baguma explained that at first, only four fish were found dead, but by Sunday afternoon more than one hundred fish were dead, and by yesterday morning, a total of 353 had died.

Members of Kabalye fish farmers group obtained 650 fingerings under northern Uganda social action fund – NUSAF project of which 300 were tilapia, and 350 cat fish.

Prudence Alituha the district fisheries officer said her office is investigating the circumstances under which the fish died.

She added that it’s highly suspected that the fish died of poisoning due to misuse of herbicides and pesticides around the pond.

Alituha also pointed out lack of oxygen in the pond manifested by  the color of the pond water, caused by farmers blocking water into and out of the pond.

The officer has advised the farmers not to eat the dead fish, rather preserve them until they come out with the exact cause of their death adding that samples would be taken to Entebbe to be tested to find the exact cause of the death.

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