Members of the house analysing the proposal
The Member of Parliaments from fishing communities in Uganda are worried over the current proposal on table to penalize seriously all those who deal in catching, selling and eating immature fish.
If Parliament passes this proposal it means all those found victim of this act will be convicted to seven (7) years of imprisonment or be asked to pay two hundred (200) million as a ransom for the wrong done.
However, the dissatisfied say this will create a serious gap and tension between the victims and the house which is passing these laws. They add that besides this, the punishment is still unbearable.
Hon. Mukasa Opondo -the Member of Parliament for Bujumba county says we want to create a punishment, yes but it should be lessened to at least six (6) months or two million (2) as in cash.
These MPs feel that the ministry responsible for Fisheries and Agriculture needs a serious checking on its excesses especially when it comes to dictating terms on the locals. This is because many Ugandans are likely to get encountered in this dilemma yet they can’t manage to raise 200 million as a security stake.
And it becomes the worst when it comes to serving 7 years because these people have families to cater for. The MPs further say, it becomes very hard for a fisher man to target only bigger fish. Because in this process, as the activity is being done even the smaller ones can be fished out of water unnecessary.
They say that it is not the right of a minister to determine what size of punishment that should be given to the victims.
Hon. Hellen Nakimuli – the woman MP Kalangala district says some time fishermen go with the right fishing gears but by accident they come back with some small fish like 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
So every one is surprised if victims like these should also suffer the same fate as low breakers.
