Uganda’s Fisheries Protection Unit faces criticism amid efforts to combat illegal fishing

UGANDA – According to an article by Monitor, Uganda’s leading news outlet, Uganda’s Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), deployed in 2017 by President Yoweri Museveni to combat illegal fishing on the country’s lakes, has become a point of contention. 

While the FPU has been credited with improving fish stocks in Lake Victoria, its heavy-handed tactics have sparked widespread criticism from both fishermen and local politicians.

When the FPU was introduced in 2017, Uganda’s fish processing factories were experiencing a sharp decline, dropping from 21 to just eight. 

This was largely attributed to overfishing and the use of illegal fishing gear, which led to the depletion of fish stocks in Lake Victoria, Uganda’s largest freshwater body. 

In response, the government took decisive action by deploying military personnel to oversee fishing activities and enforce laws prohibiting illegal practices.

A 2020 report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries revealed that fish stocks had increased by 40% within the first three years of FPU operations. However, recent data paints a different picture. 

According to a 2022 report by the National Fisheries Research Institute, Nile perch stocks have declined significantly, with decreases of 62% on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria, 52% on the Tanzanian side, and 42% in Kenya.

The decline has been attributed to a combination of factors, including rising water temperatures, mass deaths of Nile perch, and ongoing illegal fishing practices.

Tactics under fire

Despite the improvements in fish stocks, the FPU’s methods have been met with resistance. Fishermen have accused the unit of using excessive force during their operations, including conducting home and store searches and heavily policing the lakeshores. 

Some fishermen resort to hiding illegal fishing gear in forests or even submerging it in the water to evade detection.

Mr Sirajje Mawanda, a fisherman from Kalangala District, shared that the use of informants has become commonplace, with locals alerting illegal fishers of FPU operations in advance, allowing them to move or hide their gear before soldiers arrive.

Fishermen also claim that FPU soldiers often inspect boats multiple times during journeys, a shift from earlier practices where checks were conducted only upon departure or arrival at landing sites. 

Lt Lauben Ndifuna, FPU spokesperson, explained that the army has had to adopt more stringent strategies as fishermen continue to find creative ways to evade law enforcement.

“We now inspect boats multiple times during their journeys and upon arrival at their destinations,” Ndifuna stated, emphasising that the new tactics are necessary to combat the persistent issue of illegal fishing.

Economic struggles of fishermen

The use of illegal fishing gear persists, largely because it is affordable compared to legal alternatives. Sunde Gerald Kiyita, chairman of the Masirye Sub-county, called for more government support to help fishermen afford legal fishing equipment. 

Local leaders have urged the government to assist fishermen in forming Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to provide loans for purchasing recommended gear and boats.

Meanwhile, FPU commander Col. Mercy Tukahirwa assured fishermen that the army remains well-equipped, with enough fuel and resources to carry out operations anytime and anywhere on Uganda’s water bodies. 

However, the growing resentment among fishermen and the continued decline in fish stocks suggest that more balanced, sustainable solutions are necessary to ensure the long-term viability of Uganda’s fisheries sector.

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