Why you need to guard your child from fishing

Children of Africans and one Musungu child practice fishing in Awoja.

BY GODFREY OJORE

Fishing activity is common among the communities living along the shores of lakes and Rivers. The activity has caused high school drop out.

Records from education departments in the districts near the lakes and rivers indicate that the majority of pupils drop out of school to go fishing.

Fishing is an addictive activity that one can hardly leave once you venture into it. Normally one has to start when they are young through swimming and later learn how to catch fish.

Its not common with women because many women fear waters. Boys love fishing because they are able to get quick cash that they will use for buying their clothes.

Some school drop outs say education is not paying quickly as compared to fishing that does not require any qualification.

A Musungu child trying his lack to catch small fish as his friends watch 

Leaders living in the communities near the lakes and rivers have met resistance from any children who have ventured into fishing as their source of livelihood.

 “I stopped in primary five and decided to go fishing where I was able to marry my wife and buy two acres of land. I don’t regret because my colleagues continued with education are still depending on their parents on grounds that they lack jobs,” recounts James Otim from Kagwara in Serere district.

His children have also dropped out of school for fishing. Though they are not rich as poverty can easily been seen in his face but Otim is happy because he is able to eat fish daily and sells some for buying some necessities.

Teso leaders have condemned the act and urged parents to priorities education as the only way to succeeded but the fishing community is yet to accept that message.

Interestingly our cameras caught the children of the Whites commonly known as Musungu also practicing fishing at the shores of Awoja in Soroti district.

They were in company of Afrcian children. Juventine Opolot the LC1 of Aryiet in Aukot parish says that the children of Iteso begin fishing in that manner and later get addicted to.