By Ambrose Okwanga I April 25,2026
The Fisheries Office in Kwania District has dismissed earlier reports of fish poisoning on Lake Kwania, confirming that laboratory tests found no evidence of toxic substances in fish samples.
The reports, which circulated on March 18, 2026, prompted an immediate response from the district surveillance team. Samples of suspected dead fish were collected from two landing sites along Lake Kwania and submitted to the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratories for detailed toxicology analysis.
According to Fisheries Officer Ronald Otim, results released on April 15 showed that all tests returned negative. The analysis covered a range of potential toxins, including organochlorinated and brominated compounds, phosphine poisons, and metallic elements such as mercury, antimony, selenium, and tellurium.
“The laboratory findings confirmed that no toxic organic chemical substances of forensic relevance were detected in the samples,” Otim said.
He emphasized that the initial reports were unverified and urged the public to continue consuming fish without fear.
Otim further explained that occasional fish deaths can occur due to environmental factors such as sudden changes in oxygen levels or temperature. He noted that if poisoning had occurred, there would have been widespread deaths across multiple fish species, including Nile perch, tilapia, lungfish, and catfish.
“In this case, the deaths were limited and not widespread, which rules out poisoning,” he added.
The Fisheries Office says surveillance teams remain on the ground to monitor the situation, but no further cases of fish mortality have been reported since the initial incident.
Incidents of suspected fish poisoning are not new in Uganda, particularly around major water bodies like Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga. Over the years, communities have repeatedly reported dead fish washing ashore, often triggering fears of contamination and unsafe consumption.
However, investigations by authorities have frequently ruled out poisoning as the cause. For example, in 2021, government and environmental agencies dismissed widespread claims of poisoning after dead fish were reported across several landing sites. Instead, experts attributed the deaths to natural and environmental factors, particularly low oxygen levels in the water.
Nile perch, one of Uganda’s most valuable commercial species, is particularly vulnerable because it requires high oxygen levels. As a result, it is often the most affected species during such incidents, even when other fish survive.