Members of the recently constituted Wakiso District Fisheries Management Committee in Entebbe Municipality and Katabi Town Council have threatened to quit their positions and leave illegal fishing practices unabated, following alleged assault and attacks by members of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
In a meeting at the Bugonga landing site on Saturday attended by members of the District Fisheries Management Committee, Landing Site Management committee, Sub County Fisheries Management committee and the 155 Marine Sector commander, they raised their complaints against UPDF personnel whom they allege are protecting illegal fishing activities on Lake Victoria.
The defense secretary for Kavenyanja landing site, Mr Fred Mulema, decried the delay in response of the army officers when called upon to back them in case of attacks during their night patrols on the lake, and expressed dismay at alleged selective arrests of illegal fishers.
“We were at Ndese patrolling and a marine officer came by, when he saw the group he increased speed while approaching them, however when he reached them he arrested a man using ‘pala’ (undersized fishing canoe) and left seven boats using illegal fishing nets freely going about their business,” he said.
Mr Mohammed Yiga, the Bugonga landing site committee publicity officer, said they have failed to bring an end to illegal fishing in areas like Lido and Water Resources allegedly due to the army’s interference.
“They used to arrest people who used to fish around the breeding zone at Kigungu, the military is the one that protects the area, however they destroy the fish and even bury the eggs, but if you men in uniform are the ones stopping the committee officials from carrying out their work, are we really safe?” he asked.
He added, “There is a lack of proper deployment, the people in illegal fishing we are fighting are the same people in uniform.”
Mr Paul Kigozi, a Kigungu landing site member, alleged that he was attacked by the commander of Nfo Island, which houses the Special Forces Command (SFC) marine base, one Capt. Edward Byamukama, while carrying out their routine patrols on the lake.
“He came and parked beside our boat which had monofilament nets that we had confiscated from illegal fishers in the operation near Nfo, he took our phones from us, when I told him that he had contacted his boss to inform him of the developments, he started assaulting me and punching me brutally,” he said.
The Wakiso District Fisheries Management Committee Chairperson, Mr Edrisah Matovu, urged the members who were threatening to quit their jobs, barely three months into their operations, to give officials time to deal with errant soldiers.
“The whole army isn’t bad but it’s just some individuals, even if we say we exclude them from fighting illegal fishing, we can’t remove them from the water, their main job is to protect the country, what we should do is to weed out those few errant individuals,” he said.
He further called for a meeting between the 155 Marine leaders and the committee members in order to resolve the issues that are bound to affect the renewed fight against illegal fishing in the district.
“The licensed fishermen have started appreciating our work within the two months at the different landing sites, since there is a big difference in the amount of fish stock they are catching nowadays,” he said.
He added, “No one is going to be left on the waters using the uniform to carry out illegal fishing, unless you present a letter from the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, permitting you to do so, no one will be allowed to do so, not even by alleged affiliation to him.”
While responding to complaints raised during the meeting, the 155 Marine Sector Commander for Wakiso, Capt. Muzamiru Gimogoyi, denied the army’s involvement in illegal fishing activities, promising a better working relationship during operations, to ensure an end to the vice in the area.
“If there is an issue, let us collaborate, you have my telephone numbers, I know there are issues of manpower, but at the same time we can use that available manpower to do what we can, call me and tell me there is this soldier with this boat here and see if we won’t apprehend him,” he said.
Background
The current enforcement arrangement follows a December 2025 directive from President Museveni that led to the dissolution and restructuring of landing-site fisheries committees previously established under the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).
A December 26, 2025 letter from the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, announced that the former committees would be replaced by new committees comprising representatives of indigenous fishermen and investors.
The formation of the new committees was placed under the oversight of Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General Lt Gen Sam Okiding and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security Maj Gen Richard Otto.
The FPU was subsequently renamed the 155 Marines Battalion and placed under the command and administration of the UPDF Marines Brigade.
Major Ssebukeera was appointed commander of the new battalion, while Brig Michael Nyarwa commands the UPDF Marines Brigade.