Ugandans quarrel over Nile Perch/Empuuta

Ugandans taken for a ride.  How can someone come up with this sacrilegious suggestion? A ban on Nile Perch/Empuuta.

Mbu Fish Processors and Exporters proposed a ban on the local and regional sale and consumption of Nile Perch/Empuuta?  They suggested the fish be preserved for the European Market only. Imagine such madness!

Fresh from the waters, Nile Perch is a wonderful dish for every taste and considered the ultimate pan-fried fish, mild & sweet tasting with delicious white, flaky fillets. This is what the Fish Exporters want us to miss on our weekend menus!

Now, such situation has ever happened in Uganda; it is similar.  Bushenyi district, in the past years dominated the rest of Uganda’s districts in malnourished children.  This was because all the milk was being sold, as a result children at home starved.

In Isingiro District, where banana growing is popular and matooke is the main source of income for most families.  Family heads, reportedly, restrict their wives not to cook the big bunches. They look at big bunches in terms of cash.  “Have you touched ‘my Juba?” husbands reportedly ask their wives, meaning that big and good bunches of Matooke are reserved for Juba Market.

This kind of arrangement always breeds conflicts. The wives always go beyond the commands of their husbands, cut and cook “the Juba” bunches.

Back to Nile Perch/Empuuta, the exporters want Ugandans to forego empuuta for money, which will never benefit them.

This is unfair to Ugandans. Empuuta has become part of their culture, especially, in the social gatherings.  Well, the debate has attracted wild discussions. Ugandans have quarreled over this. They are against it. They say empuuta is their valued sauce.  So who is that wants to rob their valued sauce?  This is likely to create a black market for empuuta. Uganda!