Sylvia K
Residents of Kanara and Butungama sub-counties in Ntoroko district, have accused the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit of harassment and torture of their colleagues on Lake Albert.
Residents who are largely fishermen, claim that whereas the majority of them are flood victims whose only source of livelihood has been fishing, they can longer access the lake, regarding the deployment of the Fisheries protection Unit to prevent illegal methods of fishing.
Resident’s view
Residents say the continued harassment and brutality of the fisheries unit on the lake is likely to lead them to starvation in the food scarce area already.
Observably, if the government doesn’t intervene to save the situation, they say the UPDF fisheries unit has continued to brutalize the local population without sensitizing them on good methods of fishing.
A section of residents who spoke to our reporter, say the continued beating, burning and confiscation of their fish and fishing materials from the internally displaced camps, has left them in dire poverty amidst the rising cost of living in the county.
Fishermen
Jacob Musingizi, one of the fishermen living on Lake Albert, told us that when floods hit the district in September 2019, majority of their properties both nets and boats were destroyed and they were left with nothing.
Musinguzi says in spite of the government failing to provide the flood victims with essential basics like food, shelter and medical care the government instead deployed soldiers on the lake to beat up their colleagues.
He insists that the water invaded their homes and they are fishing from what would be their compounds which were submerged but not in the lake, however soldier’s come and confiscate their boats and beat them up which they claim is an infringement of their rights .
Jacob Musingizi also a fisherman on lake Albert says the fisheries protection unit is confiscating fish from people in IDP camps yet it is their only source of food and livelihood in regard to income generation.
According to him, when the minister in charge of fisheries Hellen Adoa, came in the area with the prime minister they warned the Fisheries protection unit against brutalizing residents in Kanara sub county but in vain.
Haleluya Bagiire, a resident of Kamuga parish, says as fishermen they feel betrayed by the government for failing to support them in acquiring the recommended fishing tools to enable them get back to business after three years of flooding.
The accused
Deogracious Ssentimba the Fisheries Protection Unit Spokesperson has said that the fishermen complaining of brutality are perpetuating lies to tarnish the name of the disciplined UPDF deployed on the lake.
However, he said the operations will continue to ensure the illegal fishing activities are halted and vehemently erased as stipulated in the fishing act.
