Seized immature fish donated to prisoners, schools
Prisoners unpack the impounded immature fish after it was displayed outside Kasese Chief Magistrate Court before being distributed on Thursday. BY THEMBO KAHUNGU MISAIRI.
What you need to know:
The fish was impounded last week by police and fisheries officers while at the Uganda-DR Congo border.
Kasese
Inmates in Kasese prisons and some students were treated to a surprise feast when they received a donation of immature fish which police seized from rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka.
Inmates at Mubuku, Rusese, Rukoki and Nyabirongo prisons were on Thursday among beneficiaries of the fish that was impounded on the way to DR Congo.
The 18 tonnes of immature fish worth about Shs250 million was impounded by the fisheries officers and police near the Uganda-DR Congo border last week. Mr Lwakataka reportedly abandoned three vehicles which were carrying the fish after police shot at him.
Court orders
Kasese Chief Magistrate Agatonica Mbabazi presided over the case on Wednesday. The magistrate ordered that the immature fish be distributed to the prisons and the four boarding schools of Kasese SS, Kilembe SS, Bright Academy SS and Mount Rwenzori Girls SS.
“The vehicle will be parked in the court yard and a notice issued to the owner to show cause why it should not be sold by public auction,” Ms Mbabazi ruled.
Court warned the benefiting prisons and institutions not to take the immature fish back to the market because that would be illegal.
In the presence of the Chief Magistrate and the Kasese District Police Commander, Mr Michael Sabila Musani, the fisheries officers auctioned 10 bags of silver fish (Mukene) at Shs1.1 million.
Meanwhile, the driver who is said to have been working on behalf of Mr Lwakataka was convicted and jailed for six months for transporting illegal fish and carrying fish without a permit.
Rwenzori Regional Fisheries Enforcement Officer Adam Ssemugabi said police has promised to continue tracking Mr Lwakataka until he is arrested and prosecuted.
The District Principal Fisheries Officer, Mr Julius Baluku, said the fight against illegal fishing can only be managed if the fish is blocked from reaching the market.
