Buliisa fishermen decry harrasment
May 02, 2016
President Yoweri Museveni gave a directive to fisheries officers to stop harassing fishermen until an alternative measures are found
Fishermen in Buliisa district have decried harassment by law enforcement officers who confiscate their fish and fishing gears.
They said the practice has hampered their source of income as they largely depend on fishing in Lake Albert.
"The law enforcement officers confiscate our fishing gears and even fish and yet the President had stopped the officers," Gilbert Bamutraki a fisherman at Wanseko landing site said.
Vincent Binko, another fisherman, said they lose a lot of money after catching fish but only to be confiscated by law enforcement officers.
He said a fish weighing 2 to 4 kilograms goes at between sh15, 000 and sh30, 000.
"Where are we going to get money for our children's school fees?" Binko asked.
The fishermen explained that the enforcement officers accuse them of not using recommended fishing gear and catching small fish.
Daisy Asaba, a widow whose livelihood is supplying fish to eateries and the market, said the harassment of fishermen has affected business.
"When customers come to a restaurant and they find that there is no fish they walk away," Asaba said.
Samuel Atungonza appealed to the President to intervene as fishing is their source of livelihood.
The fishermen also complained of scarcity of condoms at the landing site to curb HIV/AIDS spread.
On the plight of fishermen the Buliisa LC5 boss Fred Lukumu explained that President Yoweri Museveni gave a directive to fisheries officers to stop harassing fishermen until an alternative measures are found.
"Law enforcement officers were halted from holding an operation until alternative good fishing practices are in place and elders are brought on board," Lukumu said.
When contacted the Buliisa district Police Commander John Butaagira denied any law enforcement officer harassing fishermen.
He said the President's directive was enforced.