As growing public frustration, leaders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) are intensifying pressure on the government to compensate fishermen who lost their livelihoods during operations by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU). They argue that the government’s aggressive crackdown on illegal fishing has deepened poverty and forced many young people into joblessness.
On Tuesday, Mr. Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, FDC Deputy President for Northern Uganda, condemned the abrupt enforcement of fishing regulations. He emphasized that the Jonam people and other fishing communities deserve compensation for the economic damage they suffered.
“These communities depended entirely on fishing. The government’s sudden and forceful actions shattered their stability,” Fungaroo stated.
In Pakwach District, for instance, fear of UPDF marine officers has driven many fishermen away from the trade. Mr. Gilbert Ochan, the FDC Chairman for Pakwach, accused the government of deliberately imposing harsh policies to suppress already vulnerable populations.
“Fishing was the backbone of our local economy. Unfortunately, these restrictions have stalled development and pushed more families into hardship,” Ochan added.
Furthermore, Florence Akumu, a resident of Panyango Sub-county, explained that authorities confiscated fishing gear bought using Parish Development Model (PDM) funds. As a result, several families can no longer afford school fees or meet their basic needs.
“We already lost our land to the Acholi. Now, they’ve taken our fishing tools too. Honestly, how are we supposed to survive?” Akumu asked.
Meanwhile, the local economy has taken a significant hit. Pakwach District’s annual revenue has plummeted from UGX 1.2 billion to just UGX 400 million. Consequently, fishmongers from Pakwach and Panyimur staged protests last year, denouncing the UPDF’s heavy-handed tactics.
District Woman MP Jane Avur Pacutho recently presented these grievances to the Minister for Northern Uganda. She noted that denying access to fishing has triggered an increase in school dropout rates, as families are now unable to pay tuition fees.
“More than 70 percent of our educated residents relied on fishing income to fund their schooling. Now, that critical source of funding has disappeared,” Pacutho remarked.
However, FPU spokesperson Lt. Leuben Ndifula rejected the demand for compensation. He maintained that the government issued warnings back in 2017, advising communities to switch to legal fishing methods.
“We operate within the law. Fishermen who chose to ignore regulations should not expect government support,” Ndifula said.
Nevertheless, Mr. Patrick Jarieko, Chairman of the Fish Management Unit, called for a more compassionate response. He insisted that the government must initiate dialogue and provide financial aid to those affected.
“Enforcement came without any economic alternatives. The government must now take responsibility and support the communities that were hit the hardest,” Jarieko concluded.
READ: Fishermen Protest New Fishing Policy, Causing Mukene Scarcity and Economic Impact in Uganda