{UAH} Beach unit demands UPDF withdraw

Beach unit demands UPDF withdraw

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Children fetch water from Lake Kyoga. Several fisheries enforcement teams man the lake. PHOTO BY BILL OKETCH 

By  BILL OKETCH & ELIZABETH ALABA

Posted  Friday, August 14  2015 at  01:00

Amolatar - Members of the Beach Management Unit (BMU) in Amolatar District have appealed to government to withdraw UPDF soldiers from Lake Kyoga for allegedly causing confusion and economic insecurity on the lake.

In their August 8 petition to the area Woman MP, Ms Caroline Amali Okao, the members led by BMU chairman Tommy Ogwang, accused the UPDF enforcement team of refusing to recognise the statutory roles of local players in fisheries enforcement, particularly the unit.
This, Mr Ogwang, said had created conflict aimed at disempowering the BMU leaders.

"We request you to convey our humble appeal to government and particularly our beloved President Museveni to withdrawal UPDF soldiers and also stop importation of illegal monofilament nets that have now dominated our waters," the petition reads in part.

The operation against illegal fishing activities on the lake started last year. It is jointly carried out by the UPDF, police and local leaders of the districts surrounded by the lake. 
Currently, there are 17 UPDF soldiers monitoring the lake.

Mr Ogwang accused the regional fisheries head of enforcement, Mr John Karuhanga, of allowing his group to recruit unauthorised and untrained personnel to conduct enforcement activities on the lake with the support of UPDF soldiers.

"The taskforce is deployed on voluntary [basis], prompting them to engage in dubious maneuvers in order to survive," he said.

Mr Ogwang said there have been several attempts to disarm and arrest members of BMU patrol while in the lake resulting in a near shoot-out between the police and UPDF soldiers.

However, Mr Karuhanga told Daily Monitor on Tuesday that the petition was meant to cover up the BMU members' bad deeds.

editorial@ug.nationmedia

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

"But this I know, UPC believed and still believes in very high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." Mulindwa

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