Museveni's Lakeside Soldier Removal Plan: Set for Action by May

President Museveni has announced plans to remove soldiers from lakeside areas by May, promoting community-led conservation efforts.
During his campaign for Ms. Janet Adongo at Amatiburu Primary School in Kangai Subcounty, Dokolo, for the district woman MP by-election, Mr. Museveni vowed to take firm action against soldiers involved in extorting locals. 
“In the month of May, I want you the people who are near the lakes to guide me, to get the elders of this area; they should be the ones to tell us who is spoiling the lakes so that the army can go away and the people themselves look after the lakes," Museveni said.

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"The minister for Northern Uganda can coordinate them; the ones from this side, Nakasongola side and Busoga side, we shall have a conference and then we can remove the soldiers from the lakes,” he added.

Formed by President Museveni in January 2017 to combat illegal fishing, the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has significantly replenished fish stocks in Ugandan water bodies, notably Nile Perch and tilapia, yet faces scrutiny for alleged human rights violations.

The President urged citizens to report soldiers extorting money from fishermen for disciplinary action.

“If you have evidence about soldiers who are extorting money, bring the evidence and we arrest them. We don’t have to wait until the handover. People need to be assisted to do proper fishing,” President Museveni said.

“And the ones who are saying that I should just take away the soldiers, I’m a bit suspicious of you because why don’t you want a proper handover? You have admitted that there was immature fishing because of the problems which you had.
"That's why I was forced to bring in soldiers. I am the one who has proposed here that if the elders can come and take charge.

"I can pull away the soldiers and then hand over the lakes to the elders but for you're saying you just go, don't handover. No, that’s not how things are done. I’m a bit suspicious of you. Maybe you are the one eating young fish and they want me to take away the soldiers so that they finish the fish before the elders come in. This is very dangerous for your country,” Museveni noted.

Hon. Felix Okot Ogong, Member of Parliament for Dokolo South, highlighted alleged army extortion in fishing communities as a pressing issue needing urgent intervention, citing its detrimental impact on NRM party support.