UPDF raids landing site, destroys 400 boats, nets
Fisheries Protection Unit and residents pile illegal boats and fishing gear that was confiscated and later burnt at Kibuye Landing Site on Lake Kyoga in Lwampanga Sub-County, Nakasongola District on Sunday. COURTESY PHOTO
Kampala- The Uganda People’s Defence Forces have raided Kibuye Landing Site and destroyed 410 illegal fishing boats and more than 400 illegal fishing nets in a Saturday operation “against illegal fishing activities on Lake Kyoga’’.
According to a statement by the army at the weekend, the operation was carried out at Kibuye Landing Site on Lake Kyoga in Lwampanga Sub-county, Nakasongola District.
“When you use the recommended boats and nets, the immature fish will be given a chance to grow and you will be able to catch mature fish and get good money,” said Col James Nuwagaba, the army’s head of Fisheries Protection Unit.
The operation to stop illegal fishing started three years ago on orders of President Museveni, but the exercise has attracted both applause and condemnation from stakeholders.
While there has been an increase in fish stocks attributed to operations against immature fishing, the army specifically have been accused of torturing fishermen on Lake Victoria.
Some of those who have complained publically about the army’s brutality include Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.
However, President Museveni, while speaking in Nakasongola District last year, defended the army on the allegations, saying their operations on the lake were yielding fruits for the short period the soldiers had intervened.
The Saturday operation, according to Col Nuwagaba also counter accused politicians of “fighting their work under the guise of fighting for their people’’. The Kibuye operation involved impounding and destroying of unworthy fishing boats and nets, removal of water weeds and sensitising fishermen.
“Report all fishermen using bad boats, nets and all illegal fishing materials to authorities so that, together, we fight this vice and save our fishing industry,” Col Nuwagaba is quoted as saying.
