By Johnson Kanyesige
President Yoweri Museveni has disbanded the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) and all Landing Site Committees across Uganda. The directive was confirmed on Friday in a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter) by Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information (DDPI) at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF.
According to the statement, President Museveni directed the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to immediately dissolve all landing site committees on Uganda’s lakes following persistent controversies and complaints from fishing communities. Magezi said the dissolved committees will be replaced by new ones composed of representatives from indigenous fishing communities and investors operating at the landing sites.
He added that the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General (DCDF/IG), Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), Major General Richard Otto, have been tasked to oversee the formation of the new committees within a period of three months. In the same directive, the Fisheries Protection Unit has been restructured and renamed the 155 Marines Battalion, which will now operate under the command and administration of the UPDF Marines Brigade.
Major Joseph Ssebukeera has been appointed the Commanding Officer of the newly formed 155 Marines Battalion, while the UPDF Marines Brigade continues to be commanded by Brigadier Michael Nyarwa. Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Tukahirwa, formerly attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit, has been transferred to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security (SPADS), Lieutenant General (Rtd) Proscovia Nalweyiso. According to the statement, Lt. Col. Tukahirwa will undertake other duties in her new assignment.
