RDC raps fish militias
Sep 24, 2003
Kasese deputy Resident District Commissioner Rose Bwabaseki has warned a militia group fighting against illegal fishing against extortion and torture
By John Nzinjah
Kasese deputy Resident District Commissioner Rose Bwabaseki has warned a militia group fighting against illegal fishing against extortion and torture.
“Operation Save Samaki extract money from the people before releasing the impounded fish. They have formed kangaroo courts. I don’t want such courts in my area,†Bwabaseki said.
She was closing a two-day workshop on planning and monitoring public expenditure at Bwera sub-county headquarters recently.
Bwabaseki called on the public to help the Government fight illegal fishing. She said fish control should start at the landing sites, not by ambushes on the roads to extort money from the victims.
‘Operation Save Samakia’, led by Lt Yasin Matovu, is a government paramilitary squad formed two years ago to fight illegal fishing.
There has been a general outcry about the members of the squad alleging that they were corrupt.
In March, Musa Echweru, the area RDC currently overseeing anti-Kony operations by the Arrow Group militia in Teso, also complained about inhuman and corrupt tendencies of the squad.
Karambi Action for Life Improvement organised the workshop that attracted 90 participants.
It was funded by HIVOS, a Dutch-based NGO that assists local civil society organisations to fight poverty.
Bwabaseki thanked the organisers for the good work they were doing in sensitising the population about human rights and economic empowerment. She also thanked HIVOS for the poverty-alleviation support to the area.
Kasese deputy Resident District Commissioner Rose Bwabaseki has warned a militia group fighting against illegal fishing against extortion and torture.
“Operation Save Samaki extract money from the people before releasing the impounded fish. They have formed kangaroo courts. I don’t want such courts in my area,†Bwabaseki said.
She was closing a two-day workshop on planning and monitoring public expenditure at Bwera sub-county headquarters recently.
Bwabaseki called on the public to help the Government fight illegal fishing. She said fish control should start at the landing sites, not by ambushes on the roads to extort money from the victims.
‘Operation Save Samakia’, led by Lt Yasin Matovu, is a government paramilitary squad formed two years ago to fight illegal fishing.
There has been a general outcry about the members of the squad alleging that they were corrupt.
In March, Musa Echweru, the area RDC currently overseeing anti-Kony operations by the Arrow Group militia in Teso, also complained about inhuman and corrupt tendencies of the squad.
Karambi Action for Life Improvement organised the workshop that attracted 90 participants.
It was funded by HIVOS, a Dutch-based NGO that assists local civil society organisations to fight poverty.
Bwabaseki thanked the organisers for the good work they were doing in sensitising the population about human rights and economic empowerment. She also thanked HIVOS for the poverty-alleviation support to the area.