Buyende Fisheries Officer Detained over Bribe

Muwadi was on Monday picked from his office by the plain clothed security personnel who allegedly found receiving the bribe from fishermen whose fishing gear had been impounded over illegal fishing.

The security personnel, who said were from the Inspector General  of Government's office of Jinja Area executed the arrest in collaboration with Keneth Muheirwe ,the Buyende District Police Commander.

Muwadi  was later paraded before the Chief Administrative Officer, Christine Amulen and later  bundled on a double cabin pickup and whisked to the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in Jinja, where he's still being detained.

When contacted, the Chief Administrative Officer, Amulen , the District Resident Commissioner, Nasser Munuulo and the LC5 Chairman, Michael Kanaku declined to comment  about the matter.

Muwadi had allegedly asked the fishermen to offer him a five million shillings bribe in order to release their fishing nets and other gear. It is alleged that after negotiation, he agreed to take 1.3million shillings not knowing they laying a trap for his arrest.

The suspects reportedly consulted and connived with the IGG's office which facilitated the mission and closely followed the cash handover, prompting the surprise arrest.

Muwadi according to officials and locals in Buyende has been known to be a hardworking, merciless and incorruptible man; many wondered how he had been lured to ask for the bribe.

Aliseni Kirimpagula, a member of the Fisheries Law Enforcement Team at Bukungu landing site  said Muwadi  has been tough and won a number of awards for his work.

Kirimpagula says Muwadi would burn over 7,500 nets per year and wonders what would have lured him this this time around.

This is the second time Muwadi is facing work hazards, the first being in 2006, when he was detained in Kirinya over alleged murder of two fishermen.

The duo had drowned in the lake as they fidgeted to evade arrest upon sighting Muwadi's illegal fishing squad. The relatives of the dead later reported the matter to Police, prompting Muwadi's arrest however, after months in jail; he was acquitted of the charges.