Minister Mugasa Orders Tough Action on Lake Albert Insecurity, Directs Release of Boats in Ndaiga

20 November 2025, 8:06 am

By James Muhumuza

Ndaiga Sub-county in Kagadi district western Uganda located between Lake Albert and rugged hills, has a population of over 20,000 people, most of whom live on landing sites.

The area continues to grapple with limited health services, poor infrastructure and recent land evictions that have displaced more than 10,000 residents from landing sites such as Kamina and Kabukanga among others.

The State Minister for Public Service, Mary Grace Mugasa last evening visited Ndaiga Sub-county in Kagadi District to assess the community’s living conditions and identify challenges requiring urgent government intervention.

Mugasa, who is also coordinating President Yoweri Museveni’s campaigns in Bunyoro Sub-region, highlighted several pressing issues affecting residents.

These include persistent insecurity on Lake Albert, where armed groups locally known as Bangiti from the Democratic Republic of Congo allegedly attack fishmongers and steal boats.

Other concerns raised by locals include inadequate health services, the absence of a seed secondary school, limited access to safe water, unresolved land title disputes, unreliable electricity and the poor state of Muhorro–Ndaiga road.

The minister pledged to present these issues directly to President Museveni for prompt action.

She also instructed the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) to intensify operations along Lake Albert to guarantee the safety of residents and encouraged the community to use the lake’s resources responsibly to improve their household incomes.

During the same visit, the Commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa, issued an immediate directive for FPU officers to scale down operations and allow fishmongers to resume business.

She cautioned fishermen to cooperate with the unit to maintain peaceful coexistence and further ordered the release of all suspects and impounded boats at no cost.

The Buyaga West Member of Parliament, Barnabas Tinkasimire, urged residents to appreciate this relief by supporting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the upcoming general elections.

He encouraged the community to embrace development initiatives that improve their livelihoods.

Residents expressed excitement and gratitude to President Museveni for the intervention, pledging their full support in the 2026 elections.

The meeting, held at Kamina Landing Site, was attended by the Kagadi District Lc5 Chairperson Ndibwami B. Yosia, the Resident District Commissioner, UPDF officers and local leaders.