Uganda People's Defence Forces’ (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit on Wednesday destroyed illegal fishing gear worth an estimated sh1bn in Hoima district. 

Lt Emmanuel Mucunguzi, the UPDF Marine Brigade spokesperson, said the operation was conducted on the two landing sites on Lake Albert; Kaiso and Kijangi in Buseruka sub-county. 

Mucunguzi said many fishermen are using illegal fishing methods which have depleted the lake. 

He also warned that many Congolese are crossing into Uganda where they are involved in bad fishing methods. 

"We have been carrying out the operations on the lake and impounded several boats and nets which are not supposed to be on the lake," Mucunguzi said. 

He said that at Kijangi landing site, the fishermen have been using the mosquito nets which were provided to them by the Ministry of Health for the prevention of malaria, to carry out fishing. 

Johnson Uzelle, a fisherman at Kijangi landing site, blamed the bad fishing on the Congolese who access Ugandan waters at night. 

"We have a problem with our colleagues from Congo who come with undersized fishing nets and after depleting the lake, they return to their country," Uzalle said. 

Micheal Kyakashari, the Hoima Deputy Resident Commissioner, said all people involved in illegal fishing should be arrested charged and prosecuted. 

"We need to restore sanity on Lake Albert because many people are involved in bad fishing," Kyakashari said.