UPDF impounds 18 vehicles for transporting immature fish

THE UPDF fisheries reinforcement personnel in Nakasongola have impounded 18 vehicles after they were found transporting immature fish caught from Lake Kioga to markets to markets in  Kampala The impounded vehicles which are parked at the UPDF 40th Marines Battalion at Zengebe fish landing in Nakasongola include: trucks, cars and five motorbikes.

The Nakasongola UPDF enforcement unit which is based at the UPDF 40^th Marines Battalion in Nakasongola was instituted in February last  year to fight the rampant illegal fishing on Lake Kioga.

The Commanding officer, UPDF 40th Marine Battalion, Capt.Benon Namanya who is spearheading the  four months anti-illegal fishing campaign , said on Monday that the   vehicles impounded at different times and from different locations  while being used to transport immature fish.

 Namanya said the intensified campaign by the UPDF to crack down on illegal fishing culprits, has forced immature fish dealers to use foot paths and to transport their illicit merchandise  in cars instead of trucks in order to escape arrest.

Namanya said the UPDF personnel involved in the fight against illegal fishing were overwhelmed by the large area of operation ,but were determined to stamp out the illegal fishing vice .. One of the intercepted trucks registration numbers UBA 615B is said to have been transporting 2 tones of fresh fish and 500 kgs of smoked fish.

Another truck that was being driven by one Mathias Nkata is said to have been transporting  2 tons of fresh fish fish ,100 kgs of smoked and another 100 kgs of salted fish. Also intercepted is a Sahara pick-up said to have been carrying 400 kgs of dry fish. Nakasongola District fisheries officer, David Nsamba said illegal fishing methods were imposing a big threat to the fisheries industry

On Lake Kioga , leading to lower catches .Nsamba  said mature fish is supposed to measure 11 inches , but fishermen were catching fish as small as 6 inches . Eunice Neega a trader whose truck was impounded while transporting

immature fish from Lwampanga, said she was transporting her fish to
Markets in Bwaise and Nakawa both suburbs of Kampala. Yunus Kyambadde, a driver of one of the impounded trucks, exonerated himself saying that  his work was only to transport without questioning the size of the fish in the boxes.

The spokesman of the UPDF fisheries task force, Major Kakulungu said his task force personnel were determined to totally wipe out all illegal fishing methods on Ugandan lakes. Kakulungu said the UPDF fisheries personnel will register all fishermen and all fishing vessels in a bid to fight illegal fishing methods.