24 fishermen arrested by Ugandan security officers in Lake Victoria
Twenty four fishermen have been arrested by Ugandan security officers in Lake Victoria.
The arrest used to be rampant a few years ago but it is now gaining moment again, a move that may impede diplomatic relations between Kenya and Uganda if not handled tactfully.
The fishermen from Ringiti Island in Suba West Sub-county, Homa Bay County were arrested when they were fishing in the lake on Thursday.
They were arrested when the Ugandan security officers were patrolling in the area.
It was reported that the fishermen were arrests for allegedly fishing in Ugandan waters. They have been taken to Uganda’s Lolwe Island for detained.
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A total of six boats which the fishermen were using were also confiscated and moved to Lolwe Island.
Ringiti Island Beach Management Unit Chairperson Barnabas Odhiambo disputed the reason for arrests of the fishermen.
Odhiambo said the fishermen were fishing Kenyan Lake Victoria, contrary to the accusations of the Ugandan security officers.
“My colleagues were fishing in Kenyan waters. What has happened is just arbitrary harassment of Kenyans who are using their natural resource to earn a living,” Odhiambo said.
He expressed concerns that harassment of Kenyans fishermen is rising in the last few days. Odhiambo said Ugandan security officers had formed a tendency of patrolling in Kenyan waters.
“This days, Ugandan security officers patrol in Kenyan waters. They behave as if Kenya does not have security officers who can patrol in the lake to protect us,” he added.
Odhiambo said the Ugandan security officers demanded Sh50,000 and Sh10,000 for release of each boat and each person respectively.
“The money they demand in order to release them is so huge that fishermen cannot afford. Those people are impoverishing us,” he added.
Odhiamb called the government and local leaders to intervene and provide a long term solution to the problem.
“We have called our local leaders but none of them has responded for this problem. I am appealing to the government boost our security in this lake,” he said.
READ: Six Kenyan fishermen arrested by Tanzanian authorities in Lake Victoria
He called on President William Ruto to talk to his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni to end provide a long term solution to the problem.
“Fishermen are tired of this harassment. We appeal to President Ruto engage his Ugandan colleague to enable us to have long term peace in this lake,” the chairman added.
The acting Homa Bay County Commissioner Charles Mwayaya said the fishermen had not made a complaint to any of their offices.
“They have not reported the complaint in any of our offices but I am going on with the enquiry to find out the truth and how to salvage the situation,” Mwaya said.
During his visit to Homa Bay County for this year’s Madaraka Day celebration, promised to intensify security in Lake Victoria to protect Kenyan fishermen in Lake Victoria.
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