KATOSI WOMEN DEVELOPMENT TRUST.

Katosi Women Development Trust (KWDT), (Reg. No. S.5914/6911) works with 425 women organized in 16 groups in fishing communities along the shores of Lake Victoria in Mukono - Uganda.

KWDT Contributions.

1. Access to fish for fisher communities and women in fishing communities.

Access to fisheries resources for fishing communities and for women in fishing communities is vital to enhance food security. The changes that have taken place in fishing communities have reduced fish available for fisher communities especially to women and children. The factors for the cause of these changes are diverse but to mention a few that need to be addressed to enhance access to fish for local communities;

Trade in fish; export of fish has deprived fisher communities’ fish for local consumption and trading. Harvesting and trade in juvenile fish is a thriving alternative in many rural fisher communities which cannot be reached by enforcement officers. However this is exacerbating the problem of sustaining fisheries resources in the lake.

Alternative livelihood strategies, awareness campaigns, community based management are possible options to explore to deter juvenile fishing. External law enforcers when put in place, has instead created a new niche for law enforcers to seek bribes from the offenders as they discover a prime source of income. Community awareness and community enforcement will halt juvenile fishing practices; contribute to sustenance of fisheries resources and thus food and nutritional security.

The developments in the sector too tend to alienate the women more, increasing their vulnerability in the sector. Therefore there is a need to explore solutions that will minimize this vulnerability. For example women had initiated the idea of processing by products from the factories; the head, skin, etc. As the competition in access to these by products increased, factories started to sell to individuals who were buying in bulk. Those buying in bulk and who had the capital are men who have the money and then employ women in deplorable working conditions. Women in fisheries need financing mechanism to enable them stay in the sector.

To enhance access to fish for processing, women too in silver fish processing are purchasing boats and giving boats to the men to ensure supply of silver fish. Such women need to be further supported with access to capital to invest in fishing.

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Access to credit especially for women will reduce their vulnerability and alienation from the sector. As in other local communities, food security at the household level in fishing communities is more of a woman’s concern and role. There is therefore need to put in place extra measures to facilitate women stay in the fish processing industry and continue to access fishery productions.

Laala Grace, of Balabire Kuffe Womens Group, one of the 16 KWDT groups. Credit from KWDT supports her acquire boats which then sustains her access to silver fish for processing, and trading.

Extracted from; Fishers Net, Pan African Issue Vol 1, September 2013 by MASIFUNDISE.

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The fish caught by artisanal small-scale fisher is important to enhance and thrive access to fish for small scale fisher communities and women.

2. Fish handling and hygiene of fish for local markets.Many landing sites that handle fish for local consumption lack clean water and sanitation facilities. In addition, many women working in the processing of fish in these communities are working under very poor and unhygienic conditions.Handling, storage, processing coupled with establishing sanitation facilities, water, child centres will contribute to improved handling and working conditions for women in processing.

Laala Grace, processing silver fish on the sandy ground, using a broom to turn fish for proper drying.

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KWDT joined other fisher organizations from Africa, to launch the platform for exchange for women in fisheries in Dakar Senegal 1- 3 rd December 2013. Handling of fish and poor hygiene was sited by the group as a major challenge throughout the visit to the fish processing site.

3. Women in governance of fisheries resources.Engaging organized women groups and enhancing their capacity in the management of fisheries resources is key to sustain food security.For women to be able to fulfill this role, measures need to be put in place to reach out to them, after which capacity building programs will enable them to effectively play an active role in the governance of fisheries.

In 2010 KWDT initiated community dialogues that enable community members to meet with their local leaders to voice out their concerns and together make an action plan. These provide an opportunity for the community members to meet their local leaders and challenge and demand accountability from their leaders. The World Fisheries day at Nangooma landing site in Mukono on 21st

November 2013 further provided this opportunity

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Kisakye Womens Group one of the 16 KWDT groups, organized the community dialogue at Nangoma landing site. Community members challenged the Secretary of the Beach Management Unit on their handling of undersized and illegal nets.

The Deputy District Speaker Mrs. Ssozi responds to the issues raised by the community during the community dialogue to address arising fisheries management issues.

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4 Aquaculture.With a steady increase in the demand for fisheries resources, aquaculture has the potential to provide alternative source of fish in many local communities. However lack of ownership of land especially for women in rural communities hinders this potential. KWDT has been supporting women into aquaculture but to make long term investment in aquaculture, land ownership need to be addressed coupled with increasing access to expertise support in fish farming especially for women.

In addition to all the above, fishing communities are still struggling with ill health especially HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructure and inadequate services.

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