Residents of Ndese Landing site in Kigungu Parish, Entebbe Municipality are demanding their boats from the Uganda Fisheries Protection Unit- FPU.
The FPU confiscated these boats last week following the death of a UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit officer Samuel Okodoi who was enforcing guidelines against illegal fishing on Lake Victoria.
Major Yero Muhoozi, the Fisheries FPU Political Commissar, says Okodoi and his colleagues were carrying out routine patrol on June 14, 2021, and arrested illegal fishermen, however Okodoi’s body was found floating along the lake shores two days after.
Fred Mubiru, a fisherman says that the UPDF should release their boats because they helped arrest Augustine Byakutaga and Charles Rulinda, the suspects in connection to Okodoi’s death.
Lt. Col Bick Kaija, the Head of FPU says the boats will be released to the owners after meeting the local leaders and fishermen over the issue and agree on certain guidelines.