UPDF Fisheries Boss Lt Col Mercy Tukahirwa Who Promised To Arrest Fishermen For Not Voting Museveni Fired For Corruption

In a stunning and uncompromising shake-up at the very heart of Uganda’s military command, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unceremoniously fired Lt. Col. Mercy Tukahirwa from her powerful position as head of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), following what insiders describe as a damning and deeply unsettling investigation into the unit’s operations.

Multiple senior military sources confirmed that the dismissal was not routine, nor was it political theater. It was the result of explosive intelligence findings that laid bare a culture of gross mismanagement, unchecked power, and suspected corruption within the FPU—an elite unit that had effectively turned Uganda’s vital fisheries into a militarized cash cow.

The investigation, spearheaded by Major General Richard Otto, the newly installed Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), was code-named “Fact Finding”—a name that insiders say barely captures the gravity of what was uncovered. The probe exposed systemic rot in FPU operations along Uganda’s border lakes, revealing patterns of financial abuse, illegal profiteering, and rogue conduct that had spiraled far beyond lawful military oversight.

According to intelligence reports, FPU personnel were implicated in widespread overfishing, while simultaneously running an extortion racket targeting vulnerable local fishermen, particularly those operating in waters shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fishermen transporting the popular local fish species Amakayabo were reportedly harassed, intimidated, and forced to pay money under duress, often without any legal documentation or authorization from UPDF command structures.

One senior military source disclosed that the Fisheries Protection Unit had quietly accumulated significant wealth through these operations—money that never passed through official UPDF financial systems and was instead controlled through shadowy, informal networks. The source emphasized that these activities were conducted outside the established chain of command, raising red flags about accountability, discipline, and loyalty within the unit.

Even more alarming were accusations that Lt. Col. Tukahirwa had consolidated extraordinary influence within the fishing sector, effectively transforming the FPU into a personal power base. Investigators cited her alleged use of the populist slogan “Abavubi Ku Museveni” to rally fishermen, weaponizing political loyalty to shield questionable practices from scrutiny. Sources claimed she oversaw the creation of landing-site committees that became virtually untouchable, operating with impunity while allegedly harassing rival fishermen and enforcing arbitrary rules.

After reviewing the explosive findings, President Museveni acted with characteristic decisiveness. He ordered the immediate dissolution of the Fisheries Protection Unit, dismantling a structure that had clearly outlived its mandate. All FPU responsibilities, personnel, and assets have now been absorbed by the UPDF Marine Forces, under the command of Brigadier Michael Nyarwa.

According to State House sources, the President’s move is intended to restore discipline and refocus military priorities, particularly as Uganda faces growing security threats from armed groups and suspected pirates operating out of Tanzania and the DRC—the very actors FPU personnel had previously clashed with amid operational confusion and alleged misconduct.

Museveni went further, issuing a direct order for the dismantling of the controversial landing-site committees, instructing that they be replaced with community-based fishing organizations accountable to civilians rather than military intermediaries. This directive signals a broader campaign to purge corruption and militarized exploitation from Uganda’s fisheries sector, which has long been plagued by abuse of authority.

In a development that has raised eyebrows within military and political circles, Lt. Col. Tukahirwa is not being discharged, but instead is expected to be redeployed to the office of Maj. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso, where she will focus on political and community mobilization—far removed from the volatile and lucrative fisheries operations that brought her downfall.

Despite repeated attempts to obtain her side of the story, Lt. Col. Tukahirwa declined to comment. However, Col. Chris Magezi, the acting UPDF spokesperson, confirmed the restructuring, stating that the Fisheries Protection Unit now falls squarely under the UPDF Marine Forces, with Brig. Michael Nyarwa assuming full oversight. He further clarified that while Lt. Col. Tukahirwa remains within the UPDF, she will no longer report directly to the Commander-in-Chief, marking a decisive reduction in her authority.

This dramatic purge represents more than a routine reshuffle—it is a blistering indictment of militarized corruption and a clear warning to rogue actors within the state apparatus. The message from the top is unmistakable: no unit, no officer, and no slogan is above accountability.

The fallout is expected to send shockwaves through the fisheries community, unsettle entrenched interests, and reverberate across the UPDF. For many, it marks the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning in the management of Uganda’s natural resources—and a reminder that power, when abused, will eventually collide with the full force of the State.