Create special courts to fight illegal fishing - UPDF

The Fisheries Protection Unit under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has asked for independent courts to prosecute people who engage in illegal fishing.
The commander of the unit in Jinja and Mayuge districts, Capt Ronald Akandwanaho, said there is need for special courts to prosecute more than 700 suspects who have been arrested from February to-date.
“The challenge we face is that when the suspects are handed over to police, politicians rush to secure bond for them and they never return,” Capt Akandwanaho said on Tuesday while parading 18 fishermen, who were allegedly caught with illegal fishing gear during an operation in Mayuge and Jinja districts.
“Those found guilty should be remanded to prison to serve at least six months,” he added.
Capt Akandwanaho said illegal fishing operations have been challenged by some politicians in some areas, however, he maintains the army will do ‘whatever it takes’ to curb the vice.
According to Capt Akandwanaho, since the year began, more than 2,700 under-sized boats and illegal fishing gears have been impounded and they await destruction at Namugongo Landing Site in Katube Sub-county, Mayuge District.
Mr Andrew Omoding, a fisherman in Namugongo, Mayuge District, said the army has done well in fighting illegal fishing, which has resulted in an increase of Nile Perch, Tilapia and Silver Fish (Mukene).
“Two years since the operation begun, fish-processing factories that were closed have re-opened, that means government is receiving revenue from exporting fish,” Mr Omoding said.
Mr Musa Dhikusooka, who deals in fish in Jinja and Kiyindi, Buikwe District, said the increase in fish stock has reduced on its prices; and as a result, businessmen are not benefiting much, especially when they factor in the high costs of transport to factories.
“We are going to increase the prices from Shs6,500 per kilogramme to Shs10,000 because some of us are doing this business after getting high interest loans from microfinance institutions,” Mr Dhikusooka said.
Currently, a kilogramme of fish costs between Shs4,500 to Shs6,500, depending on the size.

Background
FPU was formed by President Museveni in January 2017 to crack down on illegal fishing activities on Ugandan water bodies which was blamed for the dwindling fish stock.
Although the work of soldiers under FPU has been commended by a section of stakeholders in the fisheries sub-sector, many politicians and fishermen have criticised them over their high-handedness in dealing with people suspected of engaging in illegal fishing.