Fishermen question why NRM’s Kaweesi Sulayiman illegal fishing in Mpigi is overlooked by UPDF

Fishermen from six main landing sites in Mawokota South, in Mpigi district question authorities why Mr Kaweesi Sulayiman’s illegal fishing is overlooked by UPDF.

They said during a meeting called by their leaders and lawyer Kawuki Peter to discuss challenges they face while utilizing Lake Victoria.

According to the chairman of the Association of Fisheries and Lake Uses of Uganda (AFLU), an association uniting all fishermen and lake users in Mpigi Mr Ndawula Matiya said that the ongoing selective enforcement of illegal fishing activities in Mpigi has killed their jobs and reduced of fish harvest causing losses to fishermen.

“We used to make more profits years buck but currently, fishing is no longer profitable,” he said.

Apart from losses to fishermen, Mr Ndawula also blames authorities on Lake Victoria for the decreasing support to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) due to selective enforcement of the law.

“In the previous elections, NRM could win easily at our landing sites, which was not the case in 2021. And I as speak now the situation is worse,” Mr Ndawula said.

Many of the fishermen who got a chance to speak in the meeting alleged that about four people practising illegal fishing in Mpigi uninterrupted by enforcement including NRM mobilizer in Mpigi Mr Kaweesi Sulayiman.

However, in recent media interviews, Mr Kaweesi dismissed these allegations saying that he abandoned fishing after discovering more profits in cultivating crops mainly coffee and tomatoes.

Mr Kawuki Peter promised to fight all injustices at the Lake and asked them to fight for their rights rather than crying for help from the government saying that the government of Uganda belongs to them.

About 100 fishermen and traders from Nakaziba, Namugeye, Lwalaalo, Luwuuki, Ssenyondo and Kiwanga landing sites attended the meeting.

Ndawula Matiya Chairman NRM Ggolo also chairman AFLU