The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has called for compensation of victims of brutality by security organs charged with policing the water bodies.
Mao, who also chairs the Cabinet Standing Committee on Human Rights, said that reports of human rights violations in fishing communities are rampant and require due attention.
Mao was speaking before the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, yesterday where he gave guidance on the petition of the Fish Maws and Traders Association.
He was accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja, and the State Minister of Finance (General Duties), Henry Musasizi.
Mao criticised the operations of the Fishing Protection Unit of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, which he said lacked the training to deal with citizens, and was thus escalating human rights violations.
According to Mao, the lasting solution to the brutalities of water bodies is the Implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, of 2022, which creates the Fisheries, Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Unit to replace the UPDF.
Anthony Esenu (NRM, Kapelebyong County) asked the government to make the investment atmosphere favourable for the fishing industry by employing similar efforts in the promotion of coffee, milk, and other products.
