Rakai fishermen accuse police of participating in illegal fishing

He accused the police of being ignorant about fishing regulations, adding that they had resorted to harassing innocent fishermen and fish mongers.

Fishermen in Rakai District have accused members of the marine police unit of involvement in illegal fishing activities and piracy on Lake Victoria.

The fishermen made the complaint during a meeting with fisheries law enforcement officers led by Mr Kenneth Mbaziira, following the impounding of three trucks of immature fish at Kasensero landing site last week.
One of the fishermen, Mr Michael Kiwewa, claimed that members of the marine police unit deliberately refused to impound trucks loaded with immature fish because the fish belonged to them.

Allegations
He accused the police of being ignorant about fishing regulations, adding that they had resorted to harassing innocent fishermen and fish mongers.
However, the Rakai District Police Commander, Mr Alex Twebaze, said he has not received any report concerning the involvement of marine police in acts of piracy or involving in illegal fishing.

Mr Twebaze said the fishermen wrongly accuse the police whenever their equipment is confiscated over illegal fishing practices.

In 2010, the Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, ordered the deployment of marine police to fight piracy along Kasensero landing site in Rakai District. The deployment came after several fishermen complained of attacks by pirates, theft of boats, fishing equipment and kidnapping of fishermen.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com