Uganda jails 35 Congolese for illegal fishing

KAMPALA: Uganda said Saturday it had sentenced 35 people from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo for up to three years for illegal fishing.

“We got 35 Congolese nationals. Thirty- one of them pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for illegal fishing and entry into Uganda in June,” said Deogratius Kato, a fisheries protection officer on Lake Albert, which is divided between the two countries.

“The same court in Kasese (in the west) sentenced and convicted four other Congolese nationals to three years for illegal fishing and entry into Uganda,” Kato told AFP.

“We don’t discourage our brothers and sisters from DRC to come to Uganda or fish on our waters but they should follow proper procedures” he added. — AFP