By Nasser Kayanja

The State Minister for Fisheries, Robert Migadde Ndugwa, has accused the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of issuing open licences for the importation of fishing gear without prior authorisation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

Migadde made the accusation during a high-level meeting involving officials from MAAIF, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) at the MAAIF headquarters in Entebbe.

The meeting agreed to establish a technical team to harmonise efforts by the four institutions in regulating the importation of fishing gear, fish and fishery products and to strengthen the fight against illegal fishing.

The technical team will also address challenges surrounding the importation of fishing gear and fish, including the importation of tilapia, and develop a coordinated approach to controlling such imports.

During the meeting, Migadde accused the Ministry of Trade of issuing open licences for fishing gear imports without prior authorisation from MAAIF, contrary to Rule 19 of the Fish Rules, 2010.

However, officials from the Ministry of Trade, led by State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Gen Wilson Mbadi, rejected the allegation, saying the ministry has not issued open general licences since 2025.

“We have an assignment to use our mandate to contribute to the transformation of this country,” Gen Mbadi said, adding that he had never signed an import licence since assuming office.

Mbadi said the Ministry of Trade was committed to working closely with MAAIF and other agencies to combat the importation and use of illegal fishing gear.

The ministry’s Acting Principal Commercial Officer, Emmanuel Atwine, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the harmonisation would strengthen cooperation among the institutions in controlling the importation of illegal fishing gear.

UNBS Acting Manager for Imports Inspection, Bridget Atuhaire, said the technical team would ensure seamless collaboration among the agencies while also ensuring that imported and exported fish and fishery products meet quality and safety standards.

Migadde commended the Ministry of Trade, URA and UNBS for accepting MAAIF’s invitation to harmonise their roles in regulating fishing gear, fish and fishery products.

“Whatever we have agreed on, we are going to document it as a harmonised single working document for all the four sectors involved,” Migadde said.