Fishing committees turn political as NRM battles opposition for control of Kalangala

Fishermen have vowed not to respect these committees since in their present form, they are political in nature

Kalangala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A fierce contest has erupted across the Kalangala islands as the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party operatives seek to lock opposition supporters out of the fish landing committees that are being constituted to help fight illegal fishing methods in the district that comprises some eighty islands.

URN has learnt that names being forwarded to the sector commander of members of the committee that will work with the Fishery Protection Unit do not include any opposition supporter as the people on it were just picked by NRM island officials as there were no elections held.

Source from the NRM says they had to select their own members to constitute landing sites illegal fishing operations committees to ensure the right people are the ones deployed so the work is well done and not attract the anger of the people towards the government after losing in the recently concluded general elections on the islands.

But pro-opposition fishermen say some of the people on the list to constitute committees are hardened criminals who have been practicing illegal fishing methods for a long time and can only perpetuate the vice if put on the committees.

But according to FPU commander Dick Kirya Kaija, membership to the committee is not partisan and eligible committee members should be island residents for over two years, engaged in fishing activities and without any criminal record.

Kalema James, a fisherman of Senero landing site says some have never engaged in any fishing activity.

On elections, NRM officials in Kalangala were recorded swearing that elections of landing site committees won’t be held. “We have already selected our members who will not mess up on these committees to undermine the popularity of our government,” one lady official vowed.

Kambugu Godfrey, the Chairperson Association of Fishers and Lake Users (AFALU) says they were surprised when NRM officials refused to follow the right procedures.

Fishermen have vowed not to respect these committees since in their present form, they are political in nature.

Peter Ambayo., the Kalangala FPU detach commander has declined to comment on the matter of the  committees.

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URN