Muntu commends Museveni for removing army from lakes

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The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu has commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for removing the army from Uganda’s lakes, a move aimed at ending harassment and extortion of fishermen.

Muntu praised Museveni’s decision, describing it as a step in the right direction.

“This is a commendable move, but it's just the beginning. Museveni must now focus on cleaning up his legacy, addressing corruption, and ensuring accountability for past abuses,” Muntu said.

Addressing a campaign rally at Central Ward in Nabumali town council, Mbale district, Muntu also asked President Museveni to give Ugandans a ‘miracle’ of a peaceful transition of power in order to be fully regarded as the father of the nation.

Muntu urged Museveni to clean up his legacy before retirement, stressing the need for accountability and reforms.

“For the last 63 years, Uganda has never had a president hand over office to the incoming president through a democratic process. The only miracle President Museveni can give to Ugandans is to retire peacefully and go home through an electoral process,” Muntu declared.

Museveni recently ordered the disbandment of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) and landing site committees, citing controversies and complaints from fishing communities.

The FPU, which was established in 2017 to curb illegal fishing, had been accused of human rights abuses and heavy-handed enforcement.

According to Museveni, the unit will be renamed the 155 Marines Battalion under the UPDF Marines Brigade.

“I know that the army will come back to their usual fishing business after elections because we are now in politics, but I am here promising to remove the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers from the lakes and water bodies,” Muntu insisted.

However, the army will remain on Lake Albert to gather intelligence due to persistent insecurity along the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While campaigning, Muntu also promised compensation to victims of landslides in the Mt Elgon region and vowed to reverse the Coffee Act.

Addressing supporters at Township village in Busano parish, Bungokho sub-county, Mbale district, Muntu criticised the government’s handling of landslide resettlement, citing delays and inadequate compensation.

“We will ensure compensation and resettlement for landslide victims, and reverse the Coffee Act to support farmers,” Muntu said.

He pledged a comprehensive approach that includes compensation, resettlement and livelihood support for affected families. Muntu said that reversing the Coffee Act would boost Uganda’s coffee industry, a key export earner, and benefit smallholder farmers while increasing government revenue.

Muntu said his five-point agenda includes strengthening community land registration, protecting customary land tenure and reviving the cooperative bank to provide affordable credit to smallholder farmers.

“The ANT government will push for a constitutional amendment criminalising land grabbing with severe penalties,” he threatened.

According to Guyson Nangayi, the government allocated sh50b to purchase land for resettlement, with each affected family expected to receive two acres and sh10m. However, delays and inadequate support have left some families still living in temporary shelters.