By Jalia Atuhaire
State Minister of Agriculture animal industry and fisheries in charge of Fisheries Robert Migadde Ndugwa together with 155 marine battalion have set fire on monofilament fishing nets and hurry-up worth Millions of shillings.
The exercise of burning illegal fishing gears took place at Kasenyi landing site, Katabi town council in Wakiso district.
Infront of fishermen at Kasenyi landing site, Migadde warned all users, importers, suppliers and distributors of illegal fishing gears mentioned monofilament nets and harry up to immediately stop the vice for the good of their job.
He says that failure to comply with the fisheries regulations and guidelines, the government will put a ban on the importation of fishing gears.
“We have been moving in different areas across the country sensitizing the masses especially in fishing communities about illegal fishing methods but people have kept a deaf ear ” the minister said adding that “We encourage people especially fishermen to use the lake sustainably’.
The Minister further appealed to people in fishing communities to report whoever uses illegal fishing methods and gears.
Meanwhile, the 155 battalion commander Maj Joseph Ssebukera has urged Ugandans especially those living in fishing communities to enforce the fisheries regulations and guidelines if they still want to use the lake.
“Fishers are lucky that government yesterday allowed Silver fish (Mukene) fisher to resume working but if they fail to comply with the the issued regulations our commander’s are ready to shut down the business” he said.
The distraction of illegal fishing gears was witnessed by MAAIF fisheries department senior officials, Entebbe grade one majestrate Lillian Mazimwe who represented the chief majestrate.
