By Bamutaze Sam
The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) is facing serious allegations of corruption, bribery, and participation in illegal fishing activities on Lake Victoria, according to local fishermen in Mayuge District.
These accusations paint a picture of a corrupt system that is crippling the local economy and undermining efforts to preserve the lake’s fish stocks.
Locals, led by Kwatulila Saida, an aspiring Member of Parliament for Bunya South in Mayuge District, have voiced their concerns, stating that fishermen are being forced to pay exorbitant bribes to the FPU in order to conduct their business.
Kwatulila, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), claims that fishermen are being charged between UGX 500,000 to UGX 1,000,000 every week just to be allowed to fish.
This financial burden, she argues, is contributing to the economic downfall of communities surrounding Lake Victoria in Mayuge.
“People are charged money by authorities to carry out fishing activities, especially in Bwonda Town Council, Nango, and Lubya in Malongo Sub County, leaving them with no hope for development,” Kwatulila explained.
The complaints go beyond simple extortion. Kwatulila alleges a multi-layered system of corruption where fishermen are targeted by multiple units of the FPU.
“If you pay officers from Bwonda barracks, and officers from Lubya barracks find you on the lake, you have to pay them too. This act has left many people with nothing to do since many don’t have money to bribe the officers.”
Even more disturbingly, the FPU is accused of facilitating illegal fishing practices. According to Kwatulila, “When you are caught with immature fish, you have to pay them, and after officers transport the immature fish to markets around Mayuge and sell them.”
This accusation suggests that the very unit tasked with protecting the lake’s resources is profiting from its destruction, directly contributing to the depletion of fish stocks and harming the long-term sustainability of the fishing industry.
These allegations are not new. In 2024, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Woman Member of Parliament for Mayuge District, Lukia Isanga Nakadama, along with FPU officers and Mayuge district local leaders, visited Bwonda Town Council and Malongo Sub County, promising improvements to the system.
However, locals claim that the situation remains unchanged, highlighting a failure of leadership and a persistent culture of impunity within the FPU.
Kwatulila further accuses local leaders in Bunya South County of exploiting this situation for political gain, using the promise of reform as a recurring theme during election seasons. This suggests a lack of genuine commitment to addressing the issue and a perpetuation of the corrupt system for personal benefit.
The accusations against the FPU are serious and demand immediate investigation. If proven, they reveal a deeply entrenched culture of corruption that is undermining the local economy, destroying the environment, and eroding public trust.
A swift and transparent investigation, followed by decisive action against those found guilty, is crucial to restore integrity to the FPU and protect the future of Lake Victoria and the communities that depend on it.
The government must prioritize addressing these issues to ensure the sustainable management of Lake Victoria’s resources and the economic well-being of the people of Mayuge District.
