Kampala — Over 200kg of immature fish destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo have been impounded. The smoked fish, packed in sacks and boxes, was seized on Sunday by Rubirizi district fisheries officer and the Police at Rutoto trading centre on the Ishaka-Kasese highway.

The fisheries officer, Anthony Rubeihayo, said they got a tip from Kampala that immature fish had been loaded on a bus to the DR Congo. But the bus officials said the owner loaded the fish and remained in Kampala.

"Fish stocks have reduced in the lakes but fishermen have continued practicing indiscriminate fishing," Rubeihayo said. He also noted that the fisheries sector was handicapped and understaffed, adding that for the last three months, they have not patrolled the lakes due to lack of funds.

The officer in charge of the Bushenyi Police Station, Bashir Siriba, said the impounded fish would be destroyed. He added that investigations were continuing to identify and arrest the owner of the fish.