The fisheries Enforcement Unit led by Maj. Nuwagaba Jimmy together with Entebbe Police set 3205 illegal fishing nets ablaze at the Marine base on Saturday. The illegal fishing gear comprising mainly of the banned monofilament nets were impounded two months ago at the Mutukula border where they were destined for Kajjansi Fish ponds. The truck has been held at Entebbe Police Station ever since it was impounded by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff at the Mutukula border.
The illegal fishing nets valued at Shs80m were imported by Katonga Trading Company Limited that was cautioned and given a last warning to desist from importing the illegal nets.
“Today we have again set ablaze 3205 illegal fishing nets mainly monofilament nets that were impounded at the Mutukula border. Many of these illegal nets are imported into the country by unscrupulous people who want to earn quick money but together with other agencies including Police and URA, we shall continue to impound the illegal nets and arrest all the culprits. Part of our role as the Fisheries Enforcement Unit is to sensitize the fishermen on the dangers of the illegal nets though many are stubborn”, Maj. Jimmy Nuwagaba revealed.
“Our biggest challenge is that our area of operation is wide and 90 percent of the fishermen using illegal nets are on islands. We have discovered through our operations that illegal fishing on the islands is largely by criminals who want to earn quick money”, Maj. Nuwagaba added.
Maj. Nuwagaba also revealed that the Fisheries Enforcement Unit has so far conducted operations in Kalangala, Namayingo, Nakasongola (around Lake Kyoga) and Masaka districts and are total of 200,500 illegal fishing nets have been confiscated and burnt.
