Fishermen arrested by Ugandans freed

Five Kenyan fishermen who were arrested by Ugandan police for allegedly fishing in their waters in Lake Victoria have been set free.

The five were released from Migingo Island, where they were being held, following negotiations between officials from Kenya and Uganda, said Migori acting DC John Tanui on Sunday.

Two boats that had been impounded by the Ugandans were also released, he said.

Migori MP John Pesa and a Nairobi advocate, Mr Mark Okeyo, called for intervention from the Navy to help the Government reclaim Migingo island, which he said Uganda has illegally laid claim to.

“We want to know why our security forces have continued to remain silent when Ugandan security officers are entering Kenya and harassing its innocent citizens. This is external aggression and our armed forces have to intervene,” said Mr Pesa.

And fishermen constantly harassed by Ugandan authorities on the disputed island are accusing Kenyan security officers of complicity in their problems.

The fishermen claimed that some members of the Beach Management Units and policemen were colluding with their Ugandan counterparts to fleece them.

A spokesman for the fishermen who declined to be named for fear of victimisation said the Ugandan security took between Sh100,000 and Sh300,000 from them in form of fines for fishing in Ugandan waters, then shared the money with BMU personnel and police.

Share the loot

“We are fined between Sh10,000 and Sh15,000 per boat by the Ugandan fisheries ... But we have learnt that they are being tipped by locals who share with them the loot,” he said.

Suba Police boss Clement Wangai refuted the claims, saying no regular policemen were stationed on the island. Area DC Odino Opuko said every effort had been made to address the problems in the lake.

He said the matter was being handled at a higher level and expressed optimism that it would soon be resolved.