Minister warns mafia involved in illegal fishing; ‘Your days are numbered’
Licensing of fisheries activities exercise on the major water bodies namely lakes Victoria, Edward, George and Edward that started on the 1st of January and will be completed on 31st March.
Kimera Abdul 
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal industry Hellen Adoa has warned high profile personalities in Uganda involved in illegal fishing activities.
The minister says those involved will soon be charge and penalized as long as she’s in office.
The State Minister made these remarks while briefing the public on licensing of fisheries activities exercise on the major water bodies namely lakes Victoria, Edward, George and Edward that started on the 1st of January and will be completed on 31st March.
According to the Minister, this Licensing exercise is guided by the Fish Act Cap 197. 2000; and the Fishing Rules, 2010 and all persons involved in Fisheries activities shall be registered under specific species licenses.
The general procedures for fisheries licensing that is done once in every two years involve registration, application, vetting and issuing of the license and all persons operating on the water bodies are not allowed to fish without valid licenses.
‘Application shall be a one off exercise, and only registered persons can apply to be considered for licensing’’ the Minister added, also emphasizing that there will be compliance enforcement by the beginning of April for all those that would fail to comply.
All applicants are required to come along with their national id’s and passports photocopies for non-Ugandans plus a previous year license for those renewing. After this registration exercise applicants will be vetted in compliance to the Fisheries rules and regulations and non-complaint applicants shall be deleted.
According to the Ministry, license fees ranging from 2000ugx- 3million shall be imposed on vessels used or owned, trucks carrying fish, containerized vessels, by products and processed fish, fish net manufacturing factories, boat builders, fishing control permits, special license and fish sanitary certificate among others.
The Minister also emphasized that all the payment processes shall be done in accordance with the Non Tax Revenue collection procedures and all assessments shall be done on URA website and also all payments shall be made at banks.
Successful applicants will be loaded onto the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries licensing portal and afterwards a license will be issued whereas for all those fishers who fail to pay their licenses in time will be required to pay for arrears.
