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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s latest directives on fisheries management have thrown the future of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) commander, Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa, into fresh uncertainty, as pressure mounts over alleged excesses by the unit she leads.
While campaigning in Buliisa and Kikuube districts this month, the President openly acknowledged widespread complaints from fishing communities over harassment by security forces on Lake Albert. His call for consultation, fairness and community-led regulation has been widely interpreted by political observers as a subtle but powerful warning to the FPU leadership.
“The issue is not stopping fishing, but stopping bad fishing,” Museveni said, stressing that enforcement must respect communities, elders and indigenous knowledge.
He added that fishermen should not be brutalised in the name of conservation — remarks that drew loud applause and renewed scrutiny of the UPDF unit on the lake.
The turning point came when Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Anita Among, directly told the President that fishermen were suffering harassment by the army and needed his intervention.
Museveni’s response — that enforcement must be humane and guided by dialogue — was seen as a rare public rebuke of the unit.
By invoking elders, traditional clans like the Abakwanga of Buliisa and Pakwach, and indigenous conservation practices, Museveni appeared to sideline militarised enforcement in favour of community-based regulation — a shift that could fundamentally weaken the justification for heavy-handed FPU operations.
M7 Hands Kakono Clean-Up Role
At the same rally, Museveni appointed Maj. Gen. Daniel Kakono, the Commander of the UPDF Field Artillery Division, to spearhead efforts to streamline fisheries enforcement and restore order in the Lake Albert fishing sector.
In a firm directive, the President ordered that all boda bodas, boats and engines confiscated by the army in Buliisa be returned to their rightful owners by the following day. Museveni, however, clarified that illegal fishing nets that do not meet required standards must not be returned.
“If the motorcycles, boats and engines are not there, you should go for the soldiers who were responsible for confiscating them,” Museveni instructed Maj. Gen. Kakono.
The directive has thus intensified scrutiny on the leadership of the Fisheries Protection Unit, with political observers saying the appointment of a senior general to oversee corrective measures signals a loss of confidence in the current command structure on Lake Albert.
Fishermen Speak Out
The fishermen accuse FPU soldiers of confiscating boat engines and fishing gear, restricting access to fish products, carrying out arbitrary arrests and demanding bribes, even though fishing is their primary source of livelihood.
The FPU was deployed to Uganda’s major water bodies in 2017 to curb illegal fishing and protect declining fish stocks. While thousands of illegal nets and gears have been confiscated and destroyed, communities along Lake Albert say enforcement methods have increasingly crossed into abuse.
Julius Balikenda, a fisherman at Butiaba landing site in Buliisa District, says the FPU’s tactics amount to human rights violations rather than conservation.
“They beat people, confiscate engines and demand money. This is not about protecting fish anymore,” Balikenda said.
Stephen Mwankali, a fisherman at Senjojo landing site, says families have been pushed into extreme poverty.
“People can no longer pay school fees or feed their families. Fishing is all we have,” he said.
Grace Kyalisiima, a fishmonger at Sebigoro landing site in Kikuube District, says women have been hardest hit.
“We deal in smoked fish and mukene. Now we are jobless, yet government still collects trading licences from us,” she said.
Jamtho Onencan, a fisherman at Mbegu landing site in Hoima, claims even fishermen with legal gear are blocked from accessing the lake.
“Sometimes they deny us access completely. There is hunger now,” he said, calling for an independent audit to assess whether fish stocks have improved.
Ibrahim Musa, the LC3 Chairperson of Butiaba Town Council, says the continued military presence is intimidating and has negatively affected local government revenue.
“Markets have collapsed and revenue collection has dropped because people are scared,” Musa noted.
Fishermen and local leaders further allege the existence of an organised bribery racket involving individuals linked to enforcement structures.
According to the claims:
Mike Kivuna, alleged to be a relative of the FPU commander, reportedly collects money from fishermen. It is not clear whether he is formally employed by the unit.
A certain Resident District Commissioner (RDC) is alleged to receive Shs4 million weekly, while his deputy allegedly pockets Shs2.5 million.
A certain LC5 Chairperson is accused of receiving Shs3 million weekly.
The money is allegedly paid mainly by foreign fishermen from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries, who reportedly use illegal fishing gears, catch immature fish and operate with impunity after paying bribes — while Ugandan fishermen face arrests and confiscations.
All the above allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by the accused persons.
Mercy Under Spotlight
Though Tukahirwa has repeatedly denied sanctioning abuse and has held community meetings promising reforms, the complaints have refused to die down. Her critics argue that under her watch, the FPU has drifted from conservation into a feared force accused of impoverishing lakeshore communities.
Writing on the Wall?
Political analysts say Museveni’s remarks mirror earlier moments when FPU commanders fell out of favour. Lt. Col. James Nuwagaba, the first commander, and Lt. Col. Dick Kaija, who preceded Tukahirwa, were both dropped amid allegations of corruption and failure to curb illegal fishing despite military deployment.
With the 2026 elections approaching, the President is keen to neutralise grievances in fishing communities that could translate into political backlash. Insiders say that unless there is a drastic change in how the Fisheries Protection Unit operates, Lt. Col. Tukahirwa’s position could soon become untenable.
For now, no official action has been announced…But…Watch this space!
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