Lwakata implicated!

MASAKA. One and a half months after embattled rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka was arrested with immature fish enroute to DR Congo; the armoured brigade barracks has confirmed having in their possession at least five tonnes of immature fish allegedly belonging to him. The immature fish, which was being ferried on a Fuso truck was allegedly impounded from two of Lwakataka’s employees in Kasese District enroute Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday. Lt Ninsiima Rwemijuma, the spokesperson of the Masaka-based Armoured Brigade, confirmed to Daily Monitor that the suspects will be taken to court when investigations into the matter are complete. The suspects were on Monday transferred to the armoured brigade barracks in Masaka where the impounded Fuso truck loaded with immature fish is also parked. The impounded fish is mostly immature Nile Perch and Tilapia. However, Lt Rwemijuma declined to give details about the case, saying it would jeopardise the investigation process. “We are going to parade the suspects soon and present the exhibits as well, we shall invite the media of course,” he said. Dismissed claims However, Lwakataka has since dismissed the claims that the impounded fish belongs to him. “If they claim that the impounded vehicle is mine, let them tell the public its registration number. I am not aware of the said impounded fish,” he said in a telephone interview. Mr Lwakataka has a history of dealing in immature fish and was in January involved in scuffle with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)law enforcement officers in Sheema District after the latter intercepted his truck loaded with immature fish. Although the URA staff hired a driver to drive the impounded fish-loaded truck back to Mbarara Town, Lwakataka reportedly drew a gun at the hired driver and forced him out of the vehicle. He personally drove away the truck. A combined team of police and URA staff mounted a chase until he was apprehended in the dusty village roads. Police chief Kale Kayihura has since revoked Lwakataka’s firearm certificate the Ministry of Internal Affairs granted to him and ordered for the recovery of his gun. Earlier incidents In July 2014, Mr Lwakataka was released in a questionable circumstance at a police station after a shoot-out with army and fisheries officers when they attempted to intercept his truck that was carrying immature fish in Kasese District. He escaped but was later re-arrested and charged in court. Kasese court jailed two of his workers to six months for dealing in immature fish. The court also ordered Lwakataka’s trucks that carried the said premature fish to be auctioned for dealing in illegal business. by @UC Browser