Over 400 kilograms of premature salted fish from South Sudan destined to Mpondwe –Lhubiriha market has been impounded by the officials from the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit in Kasese district.

The salt fish, which were being ferried in a FUSO Registration Number UAU 912Y, were impounded last evening at Kikorongo checkpoint in Lake Katwe sub-county. 

The Western Regional Lakes Overseer, Staff Sergeant John K. Behumbiza confirmed the incident to salt TV on the phone and identified the occupants who were also arrested and are currently detained at Kikorongo Police Station as Stephen Muhanguzi, a Ugandan driver and Kezadi Christian Mukendi, a Congolese national.

Behumbiza says the arrested claim that they loaded the vehicle from William Street in Kampala upon arrival from South Sudan.

According to Behumbiza, smuggling of premature fish continues to be a challenge in the Rwenzori region. He warned that whoever would be found with premature fish would automatically face the law. 

Speaking to salt TV at Kikorongo Police Station in Katwe Division, Stephen Muhanguzi, the FUSO driver, explained that he was hired by Kezandi on William Street to transport the fish along with 10 tons of refined salt and 12,000 empty jerry cans. 

He says Kezadi allegedly told him that he has all the documents permitting him to operate the fish business. 

Mr Kezadi Chritian Mukendi, the business owner, admitted having ferried in the fish but quickly said it was his first time to operate from Uganda because his entire businesses are in South Sudan.

He says he had been convinced that fish Kasese district has a good market for the fish, a reason why he decided to extend his business in the area. 

Yesterday, 280 kilograms of fish were also impounded at the same checkpoint in Kikorongo and subsequently supplied to patients on admission at Bwera Government General Hospital. 

Meanwhile, one person is nursing injuries at Kilembe Mines Hospital he sustained when a vehicle registration number T.378 CHG, he was travelling in overturned at Kikorongo junction in Lake Katwe sub-County, Kasese district.

According to the eye my witness, Julius Kule said that the accident involved a trailer which was ferrying timber from Bwera via the Mbarara route heading to Tanzania the driver, who was alone in the vehicle failed to negotiate a corner, forcing the vehicle to overturn.