The NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong has urged fishing communities around Lake Kwania and Kyoga to cooperate with the Fish Protection Unit (FPU) to restore harmony and curb related crimes.
Fishing communities for long have complained about the UPDF officers for torturing them. The latter has been blaming the former of using illegal nets and gears, a practice that depletes the lake and compromises standards.
“We all agree that the government’s intervention was timely to control fishing activities on the lakes because without regulation, the lake is depleted with non-selective methods of catching fish,” Todwong said yesterday in a baraza with fishing communities in Aorngo Sub County in Kwania district.
Todwong advised the locals to cooperate with the army and constantly seek their guidance on the right nets and gears allowed on the water to ensure harmony. “The army is not your enemy, use it to reduce confrontation,” he said.
Ahead of the 2026 polls, the Secretary General reminded the people of Kwania to elect NRM flagbearers from the President up to the local levels to foster development and accountability.
“Elections are coming. please endeavor to campaigns for and elect our party candidates into office,” Todwong urged the locals.
Sgt. Maurice Tibamanya, the Landing Officer, FPU Kwania-Dokolo sector said they are willing to work with communities to reduce unnecessary tensions.
“We are at your service to guide on proper use of the lake for the good of the country,” Sgt. Tibamanya said.
Maj. Okwir Rabwoni, the NRM director of youth and institutions, challenged people to embrace the government interventions of reducing poverty. “Seek for government programs like the Parish Development Model, emyooga among others to improve your wellbeing,” he said.
He added “the role of government is to put in place enablers like peace, security and stability as foundations for economic transformation.”
From 1986, the NRM government has designed decent measures of systems like the decentralization of powers and resources from the centre to the districts to ensure better service delivery.
“We have paved most roads, invested in power generation, education among other sectors to steer development in the country,” Mj. Okwir said.
Maj. (Rtd) Awich Polar, the NRM director of External Affairs said NRM is a people’s organization that keenly listens to their concerns and grievances and come up solutions that resonate with the demands.
The barazas in Kwania and Dokolo closed a three-day mobilization tour of the NRM secretariat leaders within the Lango subregion.
