Officials are advocating for the army to maintain a presence on the lakes with the aim of preserving order, tackling illegal fishing activities, averting conflicts among fishermen, and safeguarding the valuable fish stocks. State Minister for Fisheries, Ms. Hellen Adoa, has reaffirmed that soldiers assigned to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) will continue their operations on water bodies until illegal fishing activities are effectively curbed.
According to Ms. Adoa, the removal of soldiers from the lakes could potentially lead to a depletion of fish stocks. Fish stands as one of the nation’s foremost contributors to non-traditional agricultural exports.
Speaking to fishermen and local leaders at Kalangala District headquarters on Wednesday, the minister remarked, “The army will remain on the lakes until illegal fishing ceases. Removing them without proper organization among the fishermen could result in conflicts on the lake.”
The minister’s statement comes amidst calls from politicians representing fishing communities for the withdrawal of soldiers from the lakes. They allege that soldiers are intimidating and infringing upon the rights of fishermen. Some politicians even claim that the soldiers are financially benefiting from illicit fishing activities.
During her visit to Kalangala, Ms. Adoa worked to mediate ongoing disputes between the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Ms. Eve Kwesiga, and the FPU commander, Capt Eric Muhangi. These conflicts had reportedly hindered efforts against illegal fishing.
Ms. Kwesiga opposed FPU operations that involved soldiers arresting illegal fishing suspects at their homes, insisting that they should be apprehended on-site along with their exhibits.
The RDC also called for suspects to be tried in courts within Kalangala to facilitate easier access for relatives. She stated, “I was sent here by President Museveni to ensure harmony among the leaders. If you don’t work together, the desired results won’t be achieved. Please collaborate and align your positions.”
Minister Adoa asserted that fishermen would continue to be tried in courts outside Kalangala to prevent them from leveraging their influence for early release. She recommended, “Take these stubborn illegal fishermen to Buganda Road Court in Kampala because they tend to be released when they stay here, as has happened before.”
During the meeting, fishermen voiced their criticisms of army operations. Mr. Gerald Kayita from Mazinga Sub-county claimed, “The soldiers are here for business. When they intercept a boat with immature fish, they offload the fish and later sell it to others.”
Mr. Siraj Mawanda, the spokesperson of the Association of Fishermen and Lake Users (AFALU), suggested that soldiers should be deployed at border points to detect importers of illegal fishing equipment. He commented, “Fishermen will have no choice but to acquire the recommended gear.”
Capt. Muhangi assured that thorough investigations would be conducted regarding suspects arrested at their homes. He stated, “We don’t apprehend anyone at their home without evidence of involvement in illegal fishing. Typically, when we ask them to surrender their illegal fishing equipment, they comply, and we dispose of it.”
In the background, it’s worth noting that in 2017, President Museveni established the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) to combat illegal fishing in the country. Fish exports had been declining, with Nile perch catches dropping by 46 percent from 2011 to 2015 and tilapia catches decreasing by 38 percent during the same period, according to Uganda’s National Fisheries Resources Research Institute’s fisheries catch assessment survey.
However, the soldiers under FPU have faced criticism for their heavy-handedness, with reports of suspects being tortured, some killed, and several ungazetted landing sites being destroyed along the shores of lakes Victoria, Kyoga, and Albert.
