President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to crackdown on the corrupt Fishing Protection Unit personnel who have been accused of terrorizing fishermen on Lake Kyoga (Buyende district).
The decision stemmed from an accusation levied against the UPDF (FPU) by the fishing communities on Sunday, December 1st, 2024, at Bukungu Primary School in Buyende district during the commemoration of the International World AIDS Day.
Addressing thousands of residents, mainly fishing communities, President Museveni was asked by the locals to intervene and restrain the soldiers from harassing them and interfering with their activities.
“Mr. President, we are being treated unfairly by the soldiers on the lake even when we have the right fishing gear. These soldiers are only allowing the rich fishermen to go on the lake and blocking the poor fishing community. They are handling us in a very bad way,” said one local resident.
In his response, President Museveni assured the residents that he would handle the situation but also cautioned them against using bad fishing methods.
The president further advised the locals against overcrowding the lake and urged other residents to engage in fish farming near the lake without depleting the wetlands.
“We brought soldiers because there was a crisis in the lake; the lake was being destroyed, and we couldn’t get any big fish at all. We brought the soldiers to fix the crisis caused by fishermen. I want to discuss with the elders to solve the matter of bad fishing on the lake. The lake is for all of us; we should protect it,” Museveni explained.
He underscored the importance of adopting modern farming methods that require irrigation systems if they are to make more money, adding that the government is willing to support them to acquire.
“You go into the wetland and plant rice, which you get very little money. Working for nothing, from one acre of fruits you can get even Shs60 million. So if you are to irrigate one acre of fruits or coffee, you get much more money.
According to President Museveni, one can get up to Shs80 million from an acre of fish ponds.
On wealth creation, President Museveni asked Ugandans to embrace the four-acre model farming approach as the only way to eradicate poverty.
“We must chase poverty from here; this area of Uganda is very rich because God created them very well. You can irrigate the dry land and make a lot of money,” the president said.
He also cautioned the residents against environmental degradation.
“When you cut trees on the hills, you are destroying your. We need to agree, and we plant trees on those hills. The trees can be owned by the people,” the president said.
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