By Joseph kiggundu
Kampala
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ordered the immediate dissolution of all landing site committees on Uganda’s lakes, citing persistent controversies and complaints from fishing communities, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA).
The directive, issued by the President in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), was communicated to the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations (CDF/SPASO), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Under the new arrangement, the dissolved committees will be replaced by newly constituted landing site committees made up of representatives from indigenous fishing communities and investors in the fishing industry. The formation of the new committees will be overseen by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General (DCDF/IG), Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, together with the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), Major General Richard Otto. The process is expected to be completed within three months.
In the same directive, the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has been renamed the 155 Marines Battalion and 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 established battalion, while Brigadier Micheal Nyarwa remains the Commander of the UPDF Marines Brigade.
The changes have also seen a redeployment of senior officers. Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Tukahirwa, formerly the commander of the FPU, has been reassigned to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security (SPADS), Lieutenant General (Retired) Proscovia Nalweyiso, where she will undertake other duties.
The UPDF leadership commended Lieutenant Colonel Tukahirwa for her service, thanking her for successfully concluding her tour of duty as commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit.