Gen. Kyanda Orders AFALU Off FPU Operations

Maj. Gen. Leopold, the Chief of Staff of Land Forces has ordered the Association of Fishers and Lake Users of Uganda-AFALU to desist from carrying out operations alongside the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU for alleged use of excessive force against civilians. 

He issued the directive shortly after holding a public meeting with fishermen along Kandege landing site in Lolwe Sub County in Namayingo district on Wednesday. Gen. Kyanda explained that AFALU is not accountable to anyone and their excesses are blamed on the Fisheries Protection Unit personnel who in most cases not aware of their unscrupulous operations. 

He told journalists that during his interaction with fishermen, some of them revealed that AFALU members use the uniforms of the UPDF marine brigade and carry out operations as if they are trained soldiers. He stresses that although UPDF engages with the civilian population through their docket of civil-military cooperation, no civilian is allowed to wear the military uniform.


Kyanda however, notes that the entire AFALU association might not be bad but a good number of elements within the organization have orchestrated gross human rights violations.

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On his part, the Lolwe Sub county LC III Chairperson, John Nyambeze claims that the 15 UPDF personnel deployed to carry out operations in Namayingo, Busia and Bugiri district cannot effectively man Lake Victoria's eastern corridor borderline without help from civilians.  

Nyambeze argues that civilians through AFALU are essential in feeding FPU with intelligence information, adding that stopping them from working with UPDF will threaten what has been achieved so far.

Kyanda however, says that the FPU commanders have never informed the UPDF leadership about the need for reinforcement. He, however, said that since their operations are under review, the matter will be addressed.

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