The National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has pledged to restore fishing rights to communities along Uganda’s lakes, promising to remove the military from lake enforcement if elected president.
Kyagulanyi made these remarks on 26th December, 2025, while addressing a rally at Bukagabo B playgrounds in Buvuma District, a lakeside community whose economy largely depends on fishing.
He said his first executive action would be to withdraw the military from managing fishing activities and allow local fishermen to return to the lakes without intimidation.
“When we get into office, the first executive order will be to remove the military from all lakes and officers who have committed atrocities against fishermen will be held individually accountable in courts of law,” Kyagulanyi said.
The NUP party presidential candidate accused the military-led Fish Protection Unit of violating fishermen’s rights, saying its operations have pushed many families into poverty, cost others their lives while others have had their fishing equipment destroyed, but assured them that his government would bring change.
“The military has taken over our lakes. Many fishermen have been killed, their boats destroyed, and others imprisoned over what they call illegal fishing. I promise you, all this will come to an end once I am in power,” he added.
Kyagulanyi further revealed that some military officers have openly engaged in partisan politics by campaigning for President Yoweri Museveni, and using access to fishing grounds like Buvuma as a political bargaining tool, an act he described as illegal and unconstitutional.
’’The commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit was openly campaigning for President Museveni, which is against the law, and threatening fishermen that they would be removed from the lakes if they did not vote for him,’’ the NUP party president stated.
’’They have allowed you to fish now because election time is near, but after the elections they will chase you away again,’’ he added.
Kyagulanyi has consistently delivered the same message while campaigning in fishing communities across the Lake Victoria basin. Over the past week, he has held rallies in Ggaba (Makindye–Busabala), Entebbe, Kalangala, and Buvuma, areas where fishing supports thousands of households.
With less than 19 days to the general elections, the NUP party president is scheduled to campaign today 27th December, in Mpigi District.
He is expected to take a break on Sunday 28th December before resuming his campaign next week in Greater Masaka, covering the districts of Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Kyotera, Rakai, Lwengo, and Masaka.
