Two Kenyan fishermen shot dead allegedly by UPDF officers

Teso, Tuesday, July 4, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

Two Kenyan fishermen were last night shot dead allegedly by Uganda People Defense Force (UPDF) officers while fishing in Lake Victoria at Sumba area in Budalang'i.

Confirming the incidence, Bunyala OCPD Isaiah Mose said one fisherman succumbed on the spot while the other died while undergoing treatment at Port Victoria sub county hospital.

The Kenya coast guard police however responded to the incident and managed to save three other fishermen who are still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“We received the incident from our coast guard police where our fishermen were ambushed by the Ugandan arm, who shot and killed two fishermen last night as a result of confrontation. Our officers managed to rescue three other fishermen,” confirmed OCPD Mose.

Port Victoria sub county Hospital superintendent Bildad Amase has noted that the three were in stable condition and would be discharged soon.

The fishermen led by chairperson Marenga beach Godfrey Ogutu are now calling on the leadership in the county and security team to engage with the Ugandan counterpart to find a lasting solution.

“The incidents of Kenyan fishermen being harassed in the lake are common. We are urging Kenyan government to protect its people from such malicious attacks,” said Ogutu.

In a span for six months, over 75 Kenyan fishermen have been arrested while fishing in lake Victoria with over 60 having been released and about 15 either still detained or gone missing in the hands of Ugandan security officers.

Polycap Juma, the chairperson of Bumbe Beach Management Network, lamented that Kenyan fishermen had been subjected to harassment in the lake with little interventions from the government. However he commended the work of Kenya Coast guards in recent days.

“Kenyan fishermen have lost over Sh4.5 million through extortion and boats destroyed over the past six months. As we speak, a number of our fishermen and over five boats have been detained in Uganda,” said Juma.

There are more than 20,000 fishermen spread across the 20 beaches in Budalang’i sub-county where the five fishermen came from.

Courtesy ; K. N. A