At least 28 Kenyan fishermen are reportedly being detained in Uganda after they were arrested over two weeks ago while fishing in Lake Victoria last month.
Following the arrest, fishermen at Busembe beach, Samia Sub County, have protested over the government's handling of the arrest of their colleagues who continue to be detained in Uganda for trespass.
Families of the affected fishermen complained of sluggish intervention measures put in place by the government to rescue the detainees.
Samia Boat owners’ chairperson, Clement Sanya Nyangweso, confirmed the arrest adding, seven boats were also impounded by the Ugandan authorities who are demanding at least Sh 20,000 per person before their release.“Kenya fishermen continue to be harassed under the watch of Kenyan coast guards with little interventions having been put in place,” noted Sanya.
“We are dissatisfied in the manner that the Kenyan government is addressing the plight of our members. It will be difficult to secure release of our members without the government’s intervention,” he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Conselata Kadogo Odour mother of six whose husband is among those detained who noted that her family is now living in a state of anxiety throughout the past days as they try to figure out next move.
“My husband was the breadwinner; I urge both county and national government to arbitrate for the release of my husband,”she said.Fishermen are now urging East African Community to demarcate the lake with red ribbons to enable them know where the boundaries are.
"Currently, we are just using guesswork to establish where those boundaries could be in the lake," said Mr Pasolia Makokha josephat, a Kenyan fisherman from Sisenye beach.
The latest arrests come barely a few months after 18 others were arrested and detained by the Ugandan authorities for alleged trespass before the intervention by then Busia County Commissioner John Korir.
“The number of arrests made within a short span of time is now worrying. Families which depend on fishing are now worried that their source of livelihood will be gone,” he said.
Samia Deputy County Commissioner Eatherina Kungu confirmed the arrests. “We are aware of the arrest and we have tried to make communication with officials in Uganda but we are yet to get a response and official information about the issue,” she said.
The administrator added Samia and Bunyala BMU officials had held a meeting on Thursday on their way to Uganda to find out the nature of the offence.
“As soon as we get to know why they were arrested, we can then start the process of setting them free,” said Kungu.
