Lt Gen Okiding, Maj Gen Otto Launch Crackdown on Illegal Fishing

By Okidi Patrick

ADJUMANI, UGANDA –May 4, 2026: In a high-level move to safeguard Uganda’s water resources and restore order on the Nile, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (DCDF), Lt Gen Sam Okiding, has chaired a Madi sub-regional security meeting to combat the escalating menace of illegal fishing.
Accompanied by Maj Gen Richard Otto, Lt Gen Okiding met with top security heads and district leaders from Adjumani, Obongi, and Amuru to harmonize enforcement strategies.
Zero Tolerance for Illegal Gear:
During the meeting held in Adjumani District, the top military brass issued a stern warning to those depleting the lakes and rivers through unauthorized methods. The security summit resolved to launch immediate, joint enforcement operations to rid the water bodies of illegal fishing gear and protect the “blue economy.”
“Illegal fishing is a threat to both our national economy and environmental security. We are moving from dialogue to active enforcement,” a source from the meeting noted.
The meeting was attended by a powerful cohort of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and security committees from across the sub-region, including:
Mr. Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka (RDC Obongi)
Mr. Oceng Geoffrey Osborn (RDC Amuru)
The RDC Adjumani
Assistant RDCs (ARDCs): Komakech Robert Obina and Habiba Furaha Umuhoza.
Immediate Enforcement:
The leaders unanimously agreed on a set of resolutions aimed at identifying and prosecuting those financing and facilitating illegal fishing activities. Following the directives of the President on protecting water resources, the district security teams confirmed that enforcement teams have been deployed and operations start with immediate effect.
The presence of Maj Gen Richard Otto, a seasoned commander, signaled the government’s commitment to using a coordinated approach between civil leadership and the military to ensure “Steady Progress” in the fisheries sector.