By; Francis Lubega

Fourteen Members of Parliament (MPs) from the fishing communities want army officers removed from the islands over torture and hostility.

 

The group met President Yoweri Museveni on December 10th this year over the army’s operations against illegal fishing on Lake Victoria and other islands including Buvuma, Kalangala, Bukoli.

The MPs including Idah Nabayiga, Janepher Nantume Egunyu, Muyanja Senyonga, Abbot Ouma, David Mutebi and Hope Mukisa of Namayingo.

Other MPs who belong to the group like Nathan Nabeta did not appear for today’s press briefing where they said that the army has been accused of torturing fishermen although their presence has marked results in reduced price of a kilogram of the Nile Perch from 15,000 to 8,000 shillings due to increased fish deliveries in the last 5 months.

Ouma says they asked the president to direct both Finance and Trade Ministries to lift the ban on all fishing gears imported and also want tax exemption on appropriate fishing gears so as to reduce cost of setting up a single fishing boat from 20million to 15million shillings.

Buvuma County’s Robert Migadde Ndugwa says that they do not support illegal fishing but oppose methods applied by the army.

They also want the president to meet his pledge to improve service delivery in the islands like transport, health and education in the fishing communities.


Thursday 14th December 2017 06:21:21 AM