The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Mayuge, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Unity Platform-NUP president, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, has asked the government to withdraw the Uganda People’s Defense Forces- UPDF marine officers from Lake Victoria for allegedly mistreating fishermen. Speaking to his supporters in Mayuge town council Monday, Kyagulanyi asserted that UPDF officers have subjected fishermen to torture over the last five years.
This mistreatment, he argued, has impeded their ability to engage in fishing activities freely within Lake Victoria. Kyagulanyi highlighted the loss of life and hardships faced by fishermen as a result of direct confrontations with UPDF personnel or fatal accidents while attempting to escape the brutality. He mentioned that this situation has led to the creation of a class of orphans and widows, contributing to a cycle of poverty in the Busoga region.
The UPDF marine unit was deployed to check on illegal activity on the lakes including poor fishing methods.
Kyagulanyi noted that Lake Victoria has been a crucial source of livelihood for the people in Busoga sub-region. He called on the government to reform its approach to enforcing fishing regulations, suggesting that the responsibility should be entrusted to appropriate ministries rather than relying on armed forces to conduct such operations among civilians.
Kyagulanyi also contended that the primary role of the UPDF is to safeguard the country’s borders, suggesting that internal operations should be managed by relevant line ministries to avoid an excessive militarization of service delivery systems. Furthermore, he urged government agencies to invest in improving infrastructure such as roads, healthcare facilities, and schools in Mayuge district.
This, according to Kyagulanyi, would enhance timely service delivery to the local population and contribute to economic development at the grassroots level. Mathias Dhikusoka, a fisherman from Bwondha landing site claimed that nearly 20 fishermen have lost their lives during UPDF operations conducted by the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU.
Dhikusoka explained how these incidents have negatively impacted the economic well-being of widows and orphans, as their primary breadwinners lost their lives in the course of these operations. He also cited the lack of credit facilities for surviving fishermen, which has hindered their ability to acquire proper fishing equipment, leading to further challenges and sometimes even loss of life.
****
URN
