Mao calls for withdrawal of soldiers from lakes

Justice minister Norbert Mao has proposed the withdrawal of soldiers under the Fisheries Protection Unit from all water bodies.

His Thursday, January 31, 2024, call was in response to the petition by the fish maw traders associations who accuse the soldiers of the unit of torture and brutal arrests.

Mao said all these cries are a result of the continued existence and deployment of soldiers who are not trained in handling human beings.

He proposes that the agriculture ministry draft a regulation as per the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2023 to replace soldiers with Uganda Police Force officers.

On the issue of compensating victims of torture, Mao pledged to interact with the association and also put the matter to the attention of the human rights desk in his ministry so that an appropriate solution could be reached.