Police in Bukomansimbi are on a manhunt for two fake officers who have been defrauding the locals, claiming to be part of the Fisheries Marine Protection Unit.

They have been swindling money from locals in Buddu County, especially the fish sellers, whom they accuse of breaking the laws against fishing methods. The two fraudsters ask for money from them in order not to be arrested.

While being interviewed by journalists on May 24, 2024, Joyce Birabwa, a fish seller in Bukomansimbi, said that the two culprits came to her home and accused her of using illegal nets to fish, yet she is only a fish seller.

“I told them I did not have fishing nets because all I deal in is selling fish, but they refused to listen and threatened to arrest me,” Birabwa said.

According to Birabwa, she showed them her permits from the Office of the District Fisheries that allow her to buy fish from other landing sites, but they refused to listen and took all her fish and a sum of Ugx 600,000.

She added that they are still threatening to halt her work if she does not abide by their demands.

‘’These two culprits are forcing me to sell my small piece of land so that the money I get from selling can be given to them every month if I am to sell fish again. However, I am so conflicted because I am not ready to sell my land,’’ Birabwa revealed.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Fred Pax Kalema, highlighted that, in preliminary investigations, the Office of the District Fisheries is the one behind the two culprits who are swindling money from fish sellers in Buddu.

“This is so unfair and unjust because they are the ones who give permits to the fish sellers to buy fish from other landing sites and sell it,” Kalema said.

‘’We will not disclose the names of these culprits because the police do not want to disorganize their investigations, but once they are caught, everything will be revealed,’’ Kalema revealed.

The Office of the District Fisheries in Bukomansimbi has also denied working with and knowing these culprits.