news 19 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
UPDF Marine Unit Targets Financiers in New Anti-Illegal Fishing Drive on Lake Victoria
The UPDF's 155 Marine Battalion is changing its approach to combating illegal fishing on Lake Victoria, shifting focus from arresting individual fishermen to dismantling the networks of financiers and suppliers. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/updf-marine-unit-targets-financiers-gear-suppliers-in-new-lake-victoria-anti-illegal-fishing-strategy-5564006
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) marine unit is adopting a new strategy to tackle illegal fishing on Lake Victoria, moving away from solely apprehending fishermen to targeting the higher-level individuals who fund and supply the illicit operations.
Officers from the 155 Marine Battalion have observed that repeatedly arresting fishermen and destroying illegal gear has yielded limited success as long as the supply chains and financial backing remain untouched. The new approach involves using intelligence gathered from arrested fishermen and local fishing committees to identify and apprehend the businessmen behind the illegal trade.
“Illegal fishing in the water is very expensive in itself. My team and I are moving to arrest the bosses after getting information from the fishermen who use illegal fishing gear,” stated Lt Emmanuel Nuwamanya, the 155 Marine Battalion sector commander for Buvuma.
This strategic shift was announced as confiscated illegal fishing gear, valued at Shs19.7 billion, was publicly destroyed. The destroyed items, accumulated over three months, included nets for silverfish (mukene), pressure lamps, solar bulbs, monofilament nets, and prohibited baskets.
Enforcement efforts continue to face challenges, including alleged political interference from local leaders seeking the release of arrested suspects. Furthermore, vulnerabilities at border points are reportedly allowing prohibited fishing gear to enter the country, prompting calls for thorough investigations into how these items bypass security.
The UPDF first deployed military personnel to Ugandan lakes in 2017 to address declining fish stocks. Initially managed by the Fisheries Protection Unit, operations were later integrated into the 155 Marine Battalion. This latest strategy aims to address the root causes of illegal fishing by disrupting the supply and financing networks that sustain it.