The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying operations against illegal fishing practices, insisting it will not bow to rising political pressure as the country heads toward the 2026 general elections.
In recent months, several politicians representing fishing communities have openly criticised the Unit, accusing it of heavy-handedness and pledging to withdraw its operations from major lakes if elected.
However, the FPU maintains that its mandate is uncompromising and is determined solely by President Museveni.
FPU spokesperson, Lt. Lauben Ndifula, emphasized that the Unit operates strictly under a presidential command hierarchy.
“The leadership and command of the Fisheries Protection Unit come from the President, who is the ultimate decision-maker in our operations. No politician or individual has the power to alter or interfere with our mandate,” Ndifula said.
He warned that illegal fishing—including the use of undersized nets, encroachment on breeding grounds, and the smuggling of immature fish—continues to threaten Uganda’s aquatic ecosystems and long-term sustainability of the fishing industry.
“Our enforcement will continue hand-in-hand with sensitization campaigns to protect the fishing industry and secure livelihoods for every Ugandan,” he added.
“We cannot relax operations because politics has taken centre stage. Our duty is to protect the nation’s resources, not to serve political interests.”
Another senior FPU officer, who requested anonymity, cautioned that yielding to political interference would reverse hard-won progress and undermine public confidence in fisheries regulation.
The statements come in the wake of a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at Bwondha Landing Site in Mayuge District. The gathering brought together fishermen, local leaders, and FPU officials from Sector One, which covers Jinja, Buikwe, Buvuma, Namayingo, Buyende, and parts of Kalangala.
During the meeting, NRM LC5 flag bearer David Zijja appealed to the FPU to ease enforcement during the election season and to temporarily allow silverfish (mukene) fishers to use banned nets—a suggestion swiftly criticized by conservationists. Zijja argued that relaxing penalties would help the ruling party “woo the fishing community to vote for the NRM.”
Bwondha LCI chairperson Shafik Kisulumozo urged the government to empower fishermen through the annual Shs1b fund allocated to fishing communities, calling for the money to be made easily accessible and without restrictive conditions.
Some FPU officers privately acknowledged they are increasingly caught between political pressures and their professional obligation to safeguard the country’s water resources.
Despite the tensions, 3rd Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Naisanga Nakadama commended the FPU’s work.
“There has always been good working relations between the fishermen’s leadership and the FPU. What is needed is mutual respect and adherence to the laws,” she said.
FPU Commander Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa also addressed concerns, acknowledging heightened political pressure during the election cycle. She directed the return of confiscated boat engines, motorcycles, and fishing equipment once their owners demonstrate compliance with fisheries regulations.
Fishermen leaders, including Magidu Mukuffe and Sadam Olwita, called on government to prioritize alternative livelihood programs and improve infrastructure in fishing communities to reduce economic over-dependence on the sector.