On Monday, January 27, 2025, the Minister of Internal Affairs, General Kahinda Otafiire, issued an order for the arrest of the NRM party chairman in Bukakkata Sub-County, Richard Kimera, following allegations of misconduct. The order was given to the Greater Masaka Police after Kimera was accused of tormenting local fishermen and confiscating their fish under the guise of fighting illegal fishing activities
Richard Kimera, who holds a significant position in the ruling NRM party, has also been accused of using his political influence to occupy public land in the Bukakkata area. It is alleged that he set up coffee and commercial tree plantations on the land, which locals claim he illegally seized.
In response to these allegations, Otafiire emphasized that the NRM party, which fought to restore law and order in Uganda during the 1980s, would not tolerate lawlessness at any level. “I have directed the police to thoroughly investigate and arrest that man [Kimera]. No one is above the law,” he said during a visit to Masaka district.
The local fishing community has also voiced their frustration over Kimera’s alleged actions. Martin Kidepo, a local fisherman, stated that many fishermen have lost their properties due to unpaid loans, which they were unable to repay after suffering financial losses from Kimera’s activities.
John Ssempijja, another local, accused Kimera of colluding with soldiers from the Fisheries Protection Unit to mount wrongful operations against fishermen, further exacerbating their hardships.
In his defense, Richard Kimera denied the accusations, claiming that he had legally acquired the land from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) as part of his efforts to restore the area’s depleted forests. “I have never grabbed any land from anyone. I followed all the proper procedures as a private tree planter,” Kimera asserted.
Kimera is not the first official in the region to be accused of using their political power to exploit land and residents. Reports suggest that similar operations, often backed by the military, have been conducted in the country, leaving locals feeling vulnerable and powerless.
