The fishermen told URN on Thursday that some fishermen had resorted to fish poisoning so as to harvest more yet in the long run threatening the sustainability of the fisheries sector to compete on the global market.
Gen. Kyanda explained that AFALU is not accountable to anyone and their excesses are blamed on the Fisheries Protection Unit personnel who in most cases not aware of their unscrupulous operations.
Patrick Ochieng, a resident of Singila village accused some FPU officers of conniving with their civilian counterparts to confiscate their fishing nets and charge them between 200,000 and 300,000 to recover them.
This morning, residents led by Buvuma District Speaker, Buvuma town council LC III chairperson and councilors resolved to block the army from closing the landing site, which is home to more than 3000 people.
Maj. Joseph Ssebukera, the Commandant of the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit on Eastern Lake Victoria, says the impounded nets carry electric current, which peels off fish skin causing it to die and float on the lake.
The soldiers reportedly pulled down four days and confiscated two boats. Patrick Kawuka, the LC I Chairperson of Bugulu Village and one of the boat owners explains that the soldiers claimed that his boat was once involved in the transportation of immature fish.
The fishermen reported losing two engines and several fishing nets in the past month. Several fishing nets have been removed after they have been set to trap fish.
James Makomeli mugoya the chairperson of Kasansa rice growers’ association says growing rice was the only option. He reveals that started growing rice three years back before he was joined by his other colleagues who also used to earn a living from fishing.
It is allegedly said that one of the FPU officer accidentally pulled the trigger firing at Lukoma whom they had travelled with on the fisheries protection speed vessel for an operation.
