State Minister for Fisheries Robert Migadde has ordered the seizure of 402 illegal fishing nets found in a warehouse in Jinja City following a confrontation between his team and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials on Thursday.
Mr Migadde had travelled to the Customs warehouse, reportedly operated by URA, after receiving information that illegal fishing gear, including monofilament nets, had been offloaded there.
The operation was temporarily halted at the warehouse gate after URA officials and the facility’s management questioned the minister’s team’s authority to access the premises.
A scuffle and exchange of words reportedly ensued between the minister’s security team and the warehouse management as the parties disagreed over the required procedures for accessing the facility.
After about 30 minutes of negotiations, the minister was asked to hold a meeting with URA officials. Following the meeting, he and his team were allowed to access the warehouse, although journalists were not permitted to enter.
After inspecting the facility, Mr Migadde told journalists that he had confirmed the presence of 402 illegal fishing nets, which he ordered to be impounded.
‘We came here on a sure deal after our informers witnessed the offloading of these illegal gears. We don’t want these nets to go to the market because when they go to the market, it will be hard for us to trace them,’ he said.
Mr Migadde said the operation was intended to intercept the illegal gear before it reached the market, where it would be harder for authorities to trace.
‘People have been complaining to us as to why we don’t act before these illegal gears come to the market, and here we are,’ he said.
He said the seized nets would remain under government control as the owner follows the required procedures.
Mr Migadde gave the owner 30 days to comply with the requirements, warning that failure to do so would result in the government taking further action, including destroying the nets.
He defended the decision to keep journalists outside the warehouse, saying other goods stored at the facility were involved in separate matters being handled by URA.
The minister appealed to dealers in fishing equipment to comply with the law and avoid buying prohibited fishing gear.
‘I appeal to people dealing in this sector to purchase things that are required by law because when they purchase illegal things, they will end up making losses,’ he said.
According to a URA official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, the warehouse is a customs-bonded facility operated under URA supervision.
The consignment the minister sought to inspect had already been seized after URA received an alert about it right from the border and was undergoing the mandatory customs procedures required by law.
‘It would be like the minister coming to arrest someone who had already been arrested. The consignment had already been seized after we received an alert from the border, and it was already under the customs legal procedures,’ the official said.
The official explained that the importer had already been advised to obtain the required permit from the fisheries authorities, adding that the law gives the importer 30 days to present the permit.
‘The consignment was still within the mandatory 30 days given by law. Customs management was waiting for the importer to present the required certificate,’ he said.
He further clarified that the minister was not blocked, as earlier perceived, but was delayed while management sought the necessary authorisation to break the URA seal placed on the warehouse containing the consignment.
‘The minister was not blocked. Management was only seeking the right procedures that must be followed before a URA seal is broken,’ the official said.
He explained that the warehouse contains goods belonging to many people and is therefore heavily guarded, making authorisation necessary before the seal could be broken.
‘The minister was supposed to first park outside the facility premises, but they just came in. That was the first mistake,’ the official added.
Uganda has intensified the crackdown on illegal fishing gear as authorities seek to address declining fish stocks and protect immature fish from being harvested.
Some of the prohibited gear, including monofilament and undersized nets, have very small mesh sizes that indiscriminately catch immature fish, preventing them from growing and reproducing.
Fisheries officials say the continued use of such gear undermines the sustainability of the country’s fisheries.
The government has, over the years, introduced measures to curb illegal fishing, including banning prohibited fishing gear and strengthening enforcement on the country’s lakes.
In 2017, President Museveni directed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to deploy on the lakes to combat illegal fishing practices and protect fish stocks that were under threat of depletion.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2023, also makes it an offence to use, manufacture, stock or sell prohibited fishing gear, including nets with prohibited mesh sizes. Those convicted of manufacturing, stocking or selling such gear can face a fine of up to 5,000 currency points or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
The government has also strengthened market surveillance and enforcement to intercept illegal fishing gear before it reaches fishermen.