FPU impounds truck carrying 10 tonnes of immature fish
Dec 07, 2023
When contacted, Tukahirwa confirmed the operation saying, that four men have so far been arrested in connection to the illegal fishing and trade.
Four men were arrested in connection to the impounded immature fish at Mpondwe border. (Courtesy Photos)
Julius Luwemba
Journalist @New Vision
____________________________ Truck confiscated while carrying immature fish at Mpondwe border
On her first day in office as commandant of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa oversaw an operation where a truck was impounded carrying immature fish.
The FUSO truck: UBH 141B was found at the Mpondwe border trying to cross to the Democratic Republic of Congo. A source privy to the operation intimated that the truck was intercepted on Wednesday morning carrying immature smoked and salted fish weighing approximately 10 tonnes.
When contacted, Tukahirwa confirmed the operation saying, that four men have so far been arrested in connection to the illegal fishing and trade.
"These include Umar Busulwa, Karim Abdul, Kasereka Bahamwiti, and Joram Bwambale all of whom are currently being detained at Mpondwe Border Police Station, awaiting a court process," she said.
The FPU boss noted that the immature fish was obtained from areas of the Mpigi and Kalangala districts.
Tukahirwa assumed office from Lt. Col. Dick Kaija who had commanded FPU since December 2020. Presiding over the official handover of office on Tuesday, Gen. Wilson Mbadi, the Chief of Defence Forces lauded Lt. Col. Kaija for his effort in fighting criminality and bad fishing practices on Uganda's water bodies.
He, on the other hand, noted that it's a military routine and practice for serving officers within the Uganda People's Defence Forces to change office. Tukahirwa took over officer at a time when the FPU was in the process of returning impounded illegal fishing gear to several owners across the country. Whereas she is expected to carry on the exercise as per the presidential directive, all other latest equipment confiscated in operations will be subjected to a court process and owners charged accordingly.
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