Page 17 - April - June 2023 Edition

THE MURCHISON FALLS INVITATIONAL People have been fishing for sport as well volunteers, conservationists, corporate
sponsors, Uganda Wildlife Authority and the
as food for almost as long as fishing has
FISHING TOURNAMENT 2023 existed. With booming human populations local community. The MFIFT is a leading
ambassador for how to run and manage a
and their demand for food security, many
waters across the continent are under sustainable conservation friendly ethical
Authors: Charlie Morley, Andrew Nightingale immense pressure and sadly lack any sport fishing tournament.
sustainable conservation practice.
Murchison Falls National Park stands proud A significant event like this creates income
in Africa for its soundly sustainable for the UWA directly in form of park entry
protection of this section of the River Nile. fees, fishing permits and vehicle fees. As a
not-for profit event, and knowing the
Murchison Falls National Park surrounds the participants are there for the privilege of
final section of the Victoria Nile before it sport fishing, and not the prizes, the
enters Lake Albert. A marvellous destination, organizing committee have been able to
an impossibility of angry water, a profusion channel excess funds into conservation
of channels through papyrus islands, and the local community.
multitudes of wildlife. In the middle of the Community education is a paramount part
Park are the Murchison Falls where almost of any effort in conservation – an
the entire River Nile pushes through a nine investment in and an understanding that
meter wide gorge in the most elemental the future is important. Paraa Primary
example of raw power. Three hundred and School is situated on the park boundary
fifty tons of water a second roar down this and consists of students that are either
narrow cleft, a jet of white water that would children of the park rangers or from the
spell certain death for anything that was nearby communities. MFIFT funds have
unfortunate enough to get caught in it. The been able to provide the school with
falls form a physical barrier past which no much needed teaching scholastic and
fish can migrate, so vast numbers of physical education equipment, ensuring
migratory species travelling upstream pupils have the correct equipment to study
congregate below the white water, making at school and to catch up after the
a perfect feeding ground for bigger absence caused by Covid-19. Additionally,
predators. school uniforms have been provided for all
students irrespective of their background.
In 2001 a group of friends downing a few Several gifted students have also been
Nile Specials in Kampala’s Just Kicking helped with scholarships to secondary
Sports Bar planned to escape the city to education funded by the event.
enjoy a fishing weekend away on the
Murchison Nile. They decided to have a Through the years the MFIFT has been able
friendly sport fishing competition among to donate vital equipment to help the UWA
themselves, which was such a fun in protecting Uganda’s and Murchison Falls
challenge that it became an annual safari. National Park’s precious wildlife and
This group of fellow anglers and their event wilderness. This has been through the
slowly grew, and evolved into the highly purchase of patrol boats, motorbikes, night
competitive fishing tournament it is today. vision optics veterinary equipment and
much more. The competition organizers
Over the next decade, the Murchison Falls intend to continue with these donations
Invitational Fishing Tournament came into and support and have greater plans to
being with huge support from generous achieve next year in 2024.

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