Fishermen operating on Lake Albert in the Bunyoro sub-region have decried what they describe as continued harassment and mistreatment by officers of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).
They accuse the soldiers of confiscating boat engines and other fishing gear, restricting their access to fish products, and subjecting them to arrests and extortion, despite the lake being their primary source of livelihood.
The FPU, composed of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel, was deployed to major water bodies, including Lake Albert, to curb illegal fishing and conserve fish stocks. Its operations have led to the confiscation and destruction of thousands of pieces of illegal fishing gear across the country.
However, affected fishermen now say the enforcement methods have become excessive and abusive. Julius Balikenda, a fisherman at Butiaba landing site in Buliisa District, says the FPU’s tactics amount to human rights violations, contrary to the stated objective of protecting fish resources.
Stephen Mwankali, a fisherman at Senjojo landing site, says the operations have impoverished families, leaving many unable to pay school fees or provide for their households.
Grace Kyalisiima, a fishmonger at Sebigoro landing site in Kikuube District, says women who depend on smoking fish and dealing in silverfish have been rendered jobless, yet they pay trading licenses to the government.
Jamtho Onencan, a fisherman at Mbegu landing site in Hoima, says the FPU’s approach is harsh and sometimes prevents fishermen from accessing the lake even with legal gear, resulting in food shortages and loss of livelihoods. He wants an audit to assess whether the operations have led to any improvement in restocking fish species.
Ibrahim Musa, the LC3 Chairperson of Butiaba Town Council, states that the continued military presence is intimidating and has negatively impacted revenue collection for local governments in areas surrounding fishing communities.
In response, Lt Col Marcy Tukahirwa, the commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit, says she has ordered her officers to relax their enforcement operations following complaints from fishermen and community leaders. She has also directed the immediate release of all impounded fishing gear—including boat engines, nets, hooks, batteries, and boats.
In 2021, Members of Parliament from fishing communities raised concerns over the FPU’s conduct, arguing that its presence was intimidating and harming local revenue. They demanded a review of its methods and greater coordination on fisheries policies. Although the FPU has consistently denied allegations of torture and extortion, accusing critics of wanting to resume illegal fishing, pressure on the unit has persisted.
In March 2024, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to remove the FPU from Uganda’s water bodies and hand fishing community administration to local elders, urging the public to report soldiers involved in extortion. The unit was originally deployed in 2017 on the President’s directive to combat illegal fishing and protect declining fish stocks.
Fishermen, however, say the soldiers have instead resorted to battering them publicly rather than following legal procedures, actions they argue strip them of dignity. The FPU maintains that these allegations are unfounded.
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