UPDF to help curb immature fish sale

Dismus Buregyeya

The agriculture ministry is to deploy UPDF veterans in the operations to counter immature fish transactions, Fisheries State minister, Ruth Nankabirwa has said. 

 Nankabirwa revealed that plans are underway to set up a special police enforcement squad to work on fisheries operations.

"In the meantime, we are engaging the UPDF army veterans to work with the mainstream police in fisheries operations."

The minister explained that the police and the Courts in Masaka district were failing her efforts to wipe out the immature fish transactions.

Nankabirwa raised the concern in an impromptu meeting she convened for fisheries officers, district security team at Masaka district headquarters in Ssaza on Thursday. 

She pointed out that she has received information that the Mobile Police Patrol Unit connives with the fish traders to smuggle immature fish to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In response to the concern, the Southern Regional Police Spokesman, Noah Sserunjongi said police has instituted a special investigation of the suspected police officers from the mobile unit.

"Usually the fisheries authorities request for police escort for the impounded fish trucks and the suspects. The concerns of connivance will be the centre of investigations and drastic disciplinary action will be taken against the culprits," he said.

Nankabirwa said she met fish traders and other stakeholders in Mpondwe Kasese district last week where they singled out Masaka as the source of the immature fish that go on market and to the DRC, a country where fish species are on high demand.

"The immature fish from Kalangala are channeled through Masaka where transport route managers smuggle them out with the aid of the Mobile Patrol Police. It is very disappointing,” remarked the enraged minister.   

She expressed her disappointed with the judiciary especially in Masaka where the magistrates provide favorable environment for the fish traders to get the immature fish to their destinations.

"Imagine after my officers have spent sleepless nights running after the fish traders [of immature fish], the magistrates thereafter provide judgments that caution the culprits and they continue with the immature fish on grounds that they are first offenders," Nankabirwa fumed.    

She clarified that the judges are not supposed to release the immature fish, adding that their judgments are not deterrent.