Minister Kibanzanga in fight with IGG over destroyed fishing nets

A row has erupted between the State Minister for Agriculture, Christopher Kibanzanga and the Inspectorate General of Government over the fishing nets that the former destroyed last July.

Kibanzanga, who has been at the forefront of fighting illegal fishing nets is said to have directed a team of officials from the directorate of fisheries resources to burn one ton of undersized fishing nets that belonged to Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers Ltd.

The alleged illegal fishing nets were being used on one of the landing sites on Lake Victoria in Entebbe.

However, the Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers Ltd, owners of the destroyed fishing nets, petitioned the IGG, seeking an inquiry into the Minister’s conduct.

In a letter dated March 6th 2017, the IGG accuses the Minister, of carrying out an irregular destruction of fish nets that were seized.

Yesterday’s mid-morning meeting between the two parties ended prematurely after the Minister refused to record a statement, seeking to first study the file in which the case was reported.

The Minister of Trade, Amelia Kyambadde, has since banned the importation of fishing nets for one year to stop the catching of young fish.

Written by David Kugonza