By Okidi Patrick
KWANIA, UGANDA — The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has deployed a new commander to spearhead operations on Lake Kwania, triggering an immediate directive to hunt down and arrest all fishermen involved in illicit fishing practices.
The security transition took place on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, 2026, during a high-level joint security meeting presided over by the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) of Kwania, Abraham Aturu.
The deployment sees Commander Jackson Nuwagaba officially take over the mantle from the outgoing commander, Moses Barekye, to steer the next phase of lake surveillance.
Operations Set to Seriously Resume
Addressing the joint security briefing, DRDC Aturu informed the incoming commander that the foundational infrastructure required to sanitize the water body has already been finalized on executive orders.
“All the fisheries management committees have been fully established across the landing sites, exactly as instructed by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (DCDF),” Aturu stated. “Now that these local management committees are fully ready, serious operations must immediately resume on Lake Kwania.”
The DRDC issued a stern directive to the new FPU leadership to clamp down on criminals sabotaging the fishing industry. He ordered the immediate arrest of individuals operating small, unauthorized boats and those utilizing outlawed, destructive fishing gears that deplete the lake’s fish stocks.
DRDC Abraham Aturu highly commended the outgoing commander, Moses Barekye, for cultivating an excellent working relationship, solid coordination, and robust teamwork during his tenure.
To sustain this momentum, the DRDC assured Commander Nuwagaba that the district security web remains tightly integrated to support his field operations. “The offices of the Resident District Commissioner and the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) remain wide open for routine consultations whenever strategic advice is needed,” Aturu added.
Community Sensitization Prioritized:
Alongside aggressive law enforcement and arrests, the joint security committee resolved that the FPU must concurrently rollout mass sensitization campaigns among the landing site communities. This strategy aims to educate local populations on sustainable fishing practices and the economic benefits of protecting the lake’s ecosystem.
The high-stakes security meeting, held at the district headquarters, was attended by key district intelligence and administrative bosses, including:
- The District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Kwania
- The Assistant Resident District Commissioner Obadah Ceaser.
- The Deputy District Internal Security Officer (DDISO)
- The Outgoing FPU Commander, Moses Barekye.
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