Paper presented at Nabugabo, Masaka workshop on the role of Nabugabo, Masaka; workshop on the Role of Nabugabo lakes system in conservation of biodiversity.

Fisheries are very important to Uganda's economy. Besides its contribution toforeign exchange and employment, about 60% of the people mostly the-ruralpoor depend on fish protein to supplement on their diet. With growing fishingpressure and human activities on large lakes: Victoria, Kyoga, Albert and George,the fisheries are already showing signs of overexploitation and mismanagement.Lake Victoria basin has very important 4-5 satellite lakes constituting LakeNabugabo the largest of all and believed to have formed when the water level ofLake Victoria fell and a sand bar separated a portion of Lake Victoria about 4,000years ago. The rest of the lakes (Kayanja, Kayugi and Mariywa) are in the samedrainage basin, and are thought to have formed in the same way. Over the years,these lakes (that support important fisheries and other economic activities besides socio-cultural values) and their surrounding environments have been upon as a result of human activities. The fish stocks and species diversity of the lakes are declining very fast and this will threaten the as well. Despite their importance, however, these lakes have previously attracted less attention from socioeconomic scientists and there is dire need for socioeconomic studies.