Three fined sh200,000 over illegal fishing

The Standard Utilities and Wildlife Court at Buganda Road in Kampala has fined three men sh200,000 each for being in possession of prohibited fishing nets and unlicensed vessels.

David Mayambala, 40, Bernard Mutesala Bernard, 24 and Tom Mukili, 45 were fined after pleading guilty to the offences.

The offences contravene section 5, 28, and 33 of the Fish Act as amended by the Fish Amendment Act of 2011.

Delivering her ruling to the convicts, Grade One Magistrate Stella Amabilis noted that the punishment was appropriate to the convicts for they were first time offenders who promised to reform and didn't waste court's time.

"Since you acknowledge the offence and pledge never to do it again, this court fines each of you sh200,000 and on default, you will spend two months on remand," Amabilis ruled.

Prior, state attorney Timothy Amerit told the court that the convicts were arrested after finding them using an undersized boat and a monofilament net which is illegal.

"They were fishing without a license. However, they have promised to reform from their illegal acts and have not wasted the court's time when they pleaded guilty.

We, therefore, pray that court considers them being family men, first-time offenders and hence award them a lenient sentence," Amerit said.

The prosecution told the court that on November 8, 2019, the convicts at Kigungu on the waters of Lake Victoria in Wakiso district, were in possession of prohibited fishnets and unlicensed boats.