Fish mongers and residents of Kioga County in Amolatar District have protested the harassment meted on them by some sections of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) deployed in the region.
In a petition presented to Parliament by their MP, Hon. Anthony Okello, the residents and fishmongers complained of mistreatment and loss of lives allegedly by the UPDF.
“In February 2017, the President issued a directive deploying the UPDF in an operation called ‘Operation Pakalast. These officers use corporal punishment, which has led to death. Mr. Moses Ocheng was a victim, who later succumbed to his injuries at Murchison Bay hospital in Luzira,” he said.
The petitioners said that several evictions have taken place in Mumpu, Mutemanti in Kanywa Parish Buwunga sub-county in Masaka District and that fish mongers have had their property confiscated while some were arrested and detained without trial.
Okello informed the House that the petitioners aver the actions of the UPDF that has resulted into untold suffering and human rights abuse.
“The petitioners prayer was that the offenders are brought to book and the UPDF, while enforcing the directive, should do so in accordance with the fishing laws,” Okello added.
The Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, who chaired the sitting requested the Minister of Defence and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to scrutinize the petition and report back to the House within two weeks.
