The Council of Councilors in Ukerewe district has approved a budget of Sh 4.4 billion for the financial year 2023/2024, while the implementation of the budget for this financial year has reached 62 percent.

The chairman of the council, Joshua Manumbu, said this year's budget is Sh 3.9 billion, and the increase is 11 percent (from Sh 3.9 to Sh 4.4 billion), a step that will achieve the completion of various projects and thus provide the citizens with all important social services.

"We are going to strengthen revenue collection especially through the fishing sector to meet the demands of this budget we passed," he said.

He has said that they will ensure that the loopholes of loss of income in the fishing sector are closed rapidly in the district, including controlling the smuggling of Lake Victoria products, especially fish and seafood, by strengthening patrols in the lake.

The regulation is based on the renovation of the two speedboats that have already been completed and the boats will start operating at any time.

The council has also allocated Sh100 million for the construction of one new boat, and at the same time President Samia Suluhu Hassan has given Sh400 million to the Council for the construction of four other boats.

"So we will have a total of seven boats.

This step will help to strengthen the patrol in every part given that 85 to 90 percent of our income depends on fishing products because our district is surrounded by water," he stressed.