Uganda - Obtain License for Foreign owned vessels

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Procedure

1. An application for a licence for a foreign fishing vessel shall be submitted to the chief fisheries officer in the prescribed form.
   • Before engaging in fishing activities, you must contact the directorate of fisheries Ministry of Agriculture Animal industry and fisheries to determine whether hiring of a foreign vessel will be allowed in a particular fishing sector and what documents are required.
2. Get the Application for a foreign fishing vessel licence from Chief fisheries officer under the Ministry of Agriculture animal industry and fisheries.
   • A vessel Licence used or owned by non-citizen shall be subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Chief Fisheries Officer.
   • It shall not be unlawful for a person who is not a citizen of Uganda to fish by angling or hand line from any vessel whether the vessel is licensed or not.
3. The applicant shall obtain and complete the following forms from the chief fisheries officer under directorate of fisheries Ministry of agriculture animal industry and fisheries and complete the application form for Licence of Foreign Owned vessel.
4. Attach all the necessary documents on the application form and these include.
   • Copy of Certificate of Registry
   • Declaration of Ownership Certificate
   • Completed Crew Declaration Form
   • Applicable waiver certificates
   • Cabotage licence
   • Certificate of Tonnage Measurement
   • Passenger Ship Safety Certificate
   • Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
   • Ship Safety equipment Certificate
   • Certificate of Minimum Safe Manning
   • International Safety Management Certificate
5. The directorate of fisheries will verify and review the application form submitted basing on the following:
6. The Directorate of fisheries in Uganda may issue a foreign fishing vessel licence if
   • (a) he has determined that there are fishery resources surplus to the Uganda fishing industry which may be harvested under the licence; and
   • (b) he has determined the quantity of the surplus that may be harvested and indicates that quantity as a condition of the licence.
7. A foreign fishing vessel licence shall be subject to a condition requiring it to comply with any management measures that may be in force from time to time and to the payment of prescribed fees, royalties or charges.
8. Pay the prescribed fee in the bank Account:
9. Upon verification by the Directorate of Fisheries that there is enough resource fishery surplus in the Uganda Fishing industry, the applicant can now comply with management measures of paying the registration fees.
   • Issuance of commercial fishing licence or permits is contingent upon the payment of a fee.
   • Criteria to determine the amount of fees to be paid to the licensing authorities vary from one country to another.
   • They may relate to the tonnage of the vessel. or a combination of several factors or a combination of several factors (e.g. engine power and type of gear)
10. Before engaging in any activities, you must contact Uganda Maritime Authority (UMA) in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Uganda (see contact details below) to determine whether hiring of a foreign vessel will be allowed in a particular sector and what documents are required.
11. The applicant before receiving a Licence must fulfill the following conditions of licensing foreign fishing vessels.
    • The applicant must show methods to be used in regulating the handling, storage and processing of fish by prescribed methods of handling, storage and processing of fish.
    • Must provide the methods to be used for inspection of fish trading and processing establishments and fish products in accordance with established standards
    • Management and control of fishing ports and waters.
    • Show the methods handling, transporting, processing or selling of fish products.
    • Show the Authority the process to use in organizing and regulating the marketing and distribution of fish;
    • Must provide for the registration of private marks to be used to distinguish the ownership of fishing gear;
    • how to prohibit or control the importation, exportation and introduction into Uganda of live fish of any kind or species.
    • Licensing of a vessel is often subject to prior registration of the vessel either in the register of vessels kept by the shipping authority or in a separate register or record of fishing vessels maintained by the fisheries authority designated in the fisheries legislation. Prior registration is required in Uganda.
12. A foreign Owned vessels is a vessel that is registered with another country’s flag state (not Ugandan). You must apply for a Foreign owned vessel license with Uganda Maritime Authority (UMA) in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in Uganda.
    • For the vessel to be licensed, you must have a joint venture with a Ugandan right holder. In order for the vessel to be authorized, you must complete an application form for a catch permit according to the sector in which the vessel will operate.
    • Generally, application for a licence or permit in respect of a vessel is made to the responsible authorities by the owner or charterer of the vessel.

• NB.If you want the vessel to fish on the high seas during the charter period, you must complete the High Seas application form.

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Required Documents

• Proof of proprietorship, partnership or association of persons
• National identity cards
• National tax number
• Certified copy of memorandum and articles of association *certificate of incorporation
• Certificate of commencement of business
• List of directors
• An original copy of the ownership deed or documents
• Builders certificate
• A certified transcript of its former registry or similar other document showing the previous ownership and the bill of sale
• A copy of the full term Tonnage certificate.

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources - Head Office,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
Entebbe Plot 16-18,Lugard Avenue,
Entebbe Uganda.
P.O Box 102,
Entebbe Uganda.
Tel: 041 4320004
Email: info@agriculture.go.ug,
Website:Link

Eligibility

• Be 18 years and above.
• Be a BMU registered member.
• Possesses legal fishing gears and appliances.
• Large size of a Fishing Boat.
• Work permit from Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Applicant to be eligible should be non-citizens engaging in fish vessel activities in order to be issued with this licence.
• Vessels and companies eligible for registration
• A Foreign flagged vessel
• A company wholly owned by nationals of other country operating a Vessel and shipping co.
• A shipping company jointly owned by nationals of other countries and Uganda nationals Vessel and where equity ownership by Ugandan nationals is less than 60 per cent
• Vessel crewed by Ugandan seafarers and officers.
• Vessel and company have a subsisting contract in ;
• A Vessel and company that are granted Ministerial Waiver.

Fees

• Application fee: 10,000/=
• Licence fees: Permit 2,000,000/=

Validity

Valid for 1 year

Documents to Use

Application for Permission

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Maximum processing time 2 days.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

• A fishing vessel licence shall be personal to the owner of the vessel concerned at the time of the issue of the licence and shall not be transferred or assigned.
• A person who is not a citizen of Uganda who, for the purposes of fishing, uses any vessel licensed under the Act unless he or she is in possession of a valid special licence commits an offence against the Fish Act.
• No person who is not a citizen of Uganda shall fish in any waters of Uganda for the purpose of obtaining fish for sale unless he or she holds a valid specific licence issued for that purpose.

Required Information

• Name of ship.
• Time and place of purchase;
• Name of master;
• Best particulars in respect of tonnage, building and description of the ship;
• Bill of sale;
• Deletion certificate;
• Evidence of P&I (protection and Indemnity)insurance cover of the vessel ;
• Curving and marking sign of the vessel;
• Certificate of Tonnage measurement;
• Application for approval of vessels name; and
• International tonnage certificate.
• Name and address of Ship managers;
• Condition survey report and tonnage measurement certificate;
• Certificate of carving and marking note of the ship;
• Call sign certificate;
• Load line certificate;
• Evidence of ability or experience of the purchasers to operate and maintain ship; and
• Log book of the vessel.

Need for the Document

• Purpose of the Permit is to Control the number of foreigners fishing in Uganda water bodies and create employment for (local) Ugandan citizens.
• A foreign fishing vessel is a vessel that is registered with another countrys flag state (not Ugandan). You must apply for a fishing vessel licence with the Department of Agriculture, Uganda Maritime Authority. A valid licence under the Act is a precondition for eligibility to be registered in any of the Cottage Registers in Uganda.
• For the vessel to be licensed, you must have a joint venture with a Ugandan fishing right holder. In order for the vessel to be authorized, you must complete an application form for a catch permit according to the sector in which the vessel will fish. If you want the vessel to fish on the high seas during the charter period, you must complete the High Seas application form.
• Uganda Maritime Authority Regulates and manages safety of maritime navigation in accordance to the International Conventions and regulations. Represent Uganda in International Maritime Organizations and those related to maritime safety. Technical cooperation with all the international ports and countries and to provide maritime assistance and services to all ships in the Ugandan territorial war.
• You can only hire the vessel under exceptional circumstances to engage in fishing activities.
• The minister of Transport would approve the issuance of licences for foreign owned vessels intended for use in coastal shipping and for the grant of waivers generally. Uganda Maritime Authority (UMA) is the national focal point for Cabotage implementation and enforcement.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

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