A businessman is currently on the run after security recently bust a racket that was dealing in the importation and sale of illegal fishing gear in Entebbe.
Mr Gerald Mutebi is nowhere to be seen after security arrested some of his accomplices allegedly involved in the importation and sale of these illegal fishing gear.
This website has learnt that following outcries by the fishing community in Entebbe over illegal fishing gears which have seen the lake depleted, security launched an investigation to establish the source of the illegal nets.
A May, 6, 2025 intelligence-led operation saw the mounting of a road block along the Kampala-Entebbe Road leading to interception of a truck, registration number, UDB 561L box body full of illegal nets.
The vehicle being driven by one Geoffrey Kaggwa was impounded and taken to Entebbe Police Station and on inspection by a joint security team led by police and technical fisheries inspectors, it was discovered that the vehicle had illegal fishing gears including monofilament nets destined to various landing sites in Eastern Uganda.
A case of possession of illegal fishing gears was entered vide CRB / 502/2025 and the driver detained at Entebbe Central Police Station.
On interrogation, the truck driver said the illegal nets and the truck belonged to businessman, Gerald Mutebi who he said deals in fishing gears.
“Kagwa(driver) said the businessman owns ware houses and containers at Kigungu landing site, he has over 100 boats in Kigungu and Kalangala but also has offices at Kigungu trading centre,” a source privy to the ongoing investigations told the Nile Post.
The source added that businessman allegedly imports illegal fishing gears from China through DRC , then through Busia into Uganda, cleared by URA as textiles and an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, who clears from the system.
He allegedly uses his company, Acquap Map Limited to import these fishing gears.
“The illegal fishing gears are transported to the Kigungu warehouse, from where are distributed across the country.”
It is said that the businessman also owns shops in Entebbe, Kampala, Jinja, Hoima and Masaka, all dealing in selling both legal and illegal fishing gears.
With this information, the joint security team conducted a search at the businessman’s stores in Kigungu where several illegal fishing nets were recovered.
However, by the time of the incident, the businessman was still in China and on return, it is reported that he went into hiding.
“The exhibits have been deposited at Entebbe Police and Entebbe Magistrates court premises. While the driver was granted police bond, the file was forwarded to the resident state attorney for advice.”