Following persistent complaints over alleged abuses from the fisheries communities during his campaign trail, President Yoweri Museveni has dissolved the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) and relieved its commander, Lt Col Mercy Tukahirwa, of her duties.

In a directive issued on Friday, President Museveni, instructed the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to disband the existing committees with immediate effect, citing persistent controversies and complaints from fishermen.

The move follows mounting criticism that the Fisheries Protection Unit had become overly powerful, with fishermen across several lakes accusing its officers of intimidation, brutality, and extortion.

Earlier this month, President Museveni publicly intervened, ordering the immediate return of fishing boats, engines, and gear seized by the FPU.
While campaigning in Buliisa District, the President said fishermen from Ntoroko had raised complaints of extortion by personnel attached to the unit.

He directed Maj Gen Daniel Kakono, the Commander of the Field Artillery Division, to personally supervise the recovery and return of the confiscated items.

“If the motorcycles, boats, and engines are not there, you should go for the soldiers who were responsible for confiscating them,” Museveni warned.In the Friday directive, shared by Acting UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi on his X account, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General, Lt General Sam Okiding and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS) and Maj Gen Richard Otto were tasked with overseeing the formation of the new landing sites committees within three months.

President Museveni noted that the dissolved committees will be replaced by new bodies made up of representatives of indigenous fishing communities and private investors operating on the lakes.

The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), which has for years enforced fishing regulations on major lakes including Victoria, Albert and Kyoga, has been renamed the 155 Marines Battalion and placed under the command and administration of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Marines Brigade.

Major Joseph Ssebukeera has been appointed commanding officer of the new battalion, while Brig. Michael Nyarwa remains commander of the UPDF Marines Brigade, according to the statement.

Lt Col Tukahirwa has since been redeployed to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security (SPADS), headed by Lt Gen (Rtd) Proscovia Nalweyiso, where she will be assigned other responsibilities.

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Embattled Dr Kizza Besigye has once again spent Christmas behind the bars of Luzira prison after the High Court deferred a ruling in his case to later this month.

According to a formal communication issued by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala, the ruling in Criminal Application No 814 of 2025, which had been scheduled for delivery on December 23, was not ready as earlier indicated by the trial judge.

“The ruling in the above application will not be ready today, December 23, 2025, as earlier communicated by the trial Judge,” the letter addressed to counsel for both parties reads.

The court further informed the parties that the ruling will instead be delivered on December 29, 2025, at 11 00 am in open court, in the presence of the applicants, their lawyers, and the respondent.

“However, the trial Judge has directed me to inform you that the ruling will be delivered on 29th December 2025 at 11 00 am in the presence of the Applicants and their Counsel and the Respondent, not by email,” the Assistant Registrar stated.

The court also confirmed that a production warrant has been issued to ensure Dr Besigye is brought to court on the new date.

“I have been further directed by the trial Judge to issue a production warrant for December 29, 2025,” the letter adds.

Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and one of the most prominent critics of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, was arrested in November 2024 following circumstances that sparked regional and international attention. He was detained after being seized in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had travelled to attend a public event, before being transferred to Uganda and arraigned before a military court alongside his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale.

The initial charges related to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and allegations of soliciting military assistance from a foreign country. The use of a military court to try a civilian triggered sharp criticism from opposition politicians, lawyers and human rights organisations, eventually resulting in the matter being transferred to the civilian courts.

Since his arrest, Dr Besigye has been produced in court multiple times, both before the military tribunal and later in the High Court, as his lawyers challenged the legality of his detention, the jurisdiction of the courts and the nature of the charges against him. Court records and media reports indicate that he has been brought to court on more than half a dozen occasions in relation to this case, including mentions, applications for bail and jurisdictional challenges.

The latest application, which is now awaiting a ruling on December 29, is part of a series of legal efforts by his defence team seeking relief from continued detention. The postponement means that, like in previous years, Dr Besigye will mark Christmas from a prison cell rather than with his family.

This is not the first time the opposition stalwart has spent the festive season in custody. Dr Besigye previously spent Christmas in prison during the mid 2000s when he faced treason and rape charges that were later dismissed, and again during earlier periods of political confrontation with the state.

His continued incarceration has remained a rallying point for opposition supporters, who argue that the repeated arrests and prolonged court processes are politically motivated. Government officials, on the other hand, maintain that the matter is strictly legal and that the courts should be allowed to conclude the process without interference.

As Ugandans celebrate Christmas, attention now turns to December 29, when the High Court is expected to pronounce itself on an application that could determine whether Dr Besigye remains in custody as the country edges closer to another politically charged year.

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The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has imposed an immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Elon Musk’s Starlink technology and other communication equipment, requiring special authorization from the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) before such items can enter the country.

The directive is contained in a memorandum dated December 19, 2025, signed by Asadu Kigozi Kisitu of the Customs Commissionerate Department (CCD), and addressed to all customs staff across the country.

“This communication serves to officially notify staff about the immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components,” the memorandum states.

According to the guidance issued by Kisitu, any importer seeking to clear Starlink-related devices or communication equipment must first obtain a clearance or authorization letter from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces.

“Any import declaration of the aforementioned items should be accompanied by a clearance or authorization letter from the Chief of Defence Forces – Uganda Peoples Defence Forces,” the memo adds.

URA emphasized that the directive takes effect immediately and applies to all customs entry points, placing responsibility on customs officers to ensure strict compliance.

“This guidance takes effect immediately and all staff are expected to adhere to it,” Kisitu notes in the communication.

Although URA did not publicly outline the reasons behind the restriction, the move highlights increased scrutiny over satellite-based internet technology and advanced communication equipment, which authorities increasingly consider sensitive due to national security and regulatory concerns.

The memorandum was copied to the Commissioner General, underscoring the importance of the directive within the tax and customs administration as URA reinforces control over the importation of specialized communication technologies.

Responding to the debate on social media, URA Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Kalumba dismissed claims that the directive was politically motivated, saying the public debate is based on a misunderstanding of standard customs and security procedures.

“There is nothing new about requesting security clearance and government licensing for entities importing sensitive communication equipment,” Kalumba said.

He stressed that Uganda is not acting in isolation and that similar requirements exist across the world.

“It is not only Uganda that asks for security clearance. This is a worldwide practice carried out by many countries,” Kalumba noted, urging the public to view the directive in its proper context.

“So let us not create a storm in a teacup,” he added.

Kalumba further explained that the importation of controlled or sensitive communication technologies is subject to strict regulation globally, often involving licensing regimes, product-specific approvals, and security vetting by customs authorities and specialized government agencies.

“These measures are intended to safeguard national security by ensuring that sensitive communication technologies are not misused or allowed to fall into the wrong hands,” he said.

He also pointed to international precedents, noting that several countries require security clearance before approving the rollout or importation of Starlink equipment and services.

“Countries such as India, Pakistan, South Africa, Senegal, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others, have all required security clearance before the rollout of Starlink services,” Kalumba said.

URA officials maintain that Uganda’s approach mirrors these international practices, emphasizing that prior security clearance is a common regulatory requirement in jurisdictions where Starlink technology is licensed and deployed.

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has warned voters against lingering at polling stations after casting their ballots or engaging in acts that may be interpreted as demanding, protecting, or influencing votes, saying such conduct violates the law and undermines the integrity of elections.

In a statement issued on December 18, 2025, EC chairperson Simon Byabakama said voters are only permitted to be at polling stations for the purpose of voting and must leave immediately after.

“A voter is only allowed to be present at a polling station for purposes of voting. After voting, the voter must leave the polling station and its immediate surroundings,” Byabakama said.

He stressed that the responsibility of safeguarding votes does not lie with voters or candidates, but with duly appointed polling agents accredited by the Commission.

“The duty of safeguarding the interests of a candidate, including the votes cast, rests with polling agents appointed in accordance with the law. Candidates and voters should not turn polling stations into campaign or mobilisation centres,” Byabakama said.

The EC chairperson warned that any voter or supporter who remains at or near a polling station without lawful authority risks arrest for interfering with the orderly conduct of polling.

“Any person who stays at a polling station without being a voter in the process of voting or an accredited agent is liable to arrest for disrupting the voting process,” he added.

Byabakama further clarified that voters who wish to observe the counting of votes are only allowed to return at the official close of polling time.

“Voters who wish to observe the counting of votes may return at 4:00pm, but they must do so in an orderly manner and in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Commission,” he said.

The EC’s guidance echoes earlier public statements by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who has repeatedly cautioned voters and political actors to strictly observe electoral laws on polling day.

“The law is clear. Polling stations are not places for crowds, arguments or enforcement of perceived rights. People must vote and leave, and only return to observe counting as provided for under the law,” Kiwanuka said in recent remarks carried by several media outlets.

Similarly, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, recently urged voters to keep a safe distance from polling stations to avoid confusion and potential violence.

The Electoral Commission has reiterated that maintaining order at polling stations is critical to credible elections, warning that overcrowding, loitering and confrontations could lead to unnecessary disruptions.

“The Commission calls upon all voters, candidates and supporters to respect the law, maintain peace and allow electoral officials to do their work without interference,” Byabakama said.

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