All the 51 Kenyan fishermen, who were arrested in Lake Victoria and detained in Uganda last Saturday, have been released unconditionally.
The fishermen from Remba Island in Suba Central sub-county, Homa Bay, had been accused of fishing in the Ugandan waters without licences and fishing permits and were detained at Lolwe and Kabala Islands in Uganda together with their seven boats.
According to the National Beach Management Network Chairman Tom Oguda, two boats were released to ferry the fishers back to Remba but their fishing nets were detained while one boat with gears was released upon intervention by the owner.
"Our fishermen who were on Saturday arrested by the Republic of Ugandan Protection Unit have finally been released, however, their fishing gear have been detained by the authority," Oguda said.
Oguda appealed to the Kenyan government to find a lasting solution to the issue of the continued harassment of local fishermen by the Ugandan authorities.
Oguda reiterated President William Ruto's calls for a borderless East African Community (EAC) and the need to remove barriers and restrictions that limit movement and trade in the region.
"This is a matter which all of us agreed and supported fully and if possible should be put into action to avoid such harassment, arrests and loss by our fishermen," Oguda said while referring to President Ruto's speech during Uganda's 60th Independence Day celebrations.
"We are also aware that under EA protocol, in the common market, for instance, there is free movement of people, goods and businesses and workers to be specific, " he added.
"While doing this as we try to lessen the burden of the EA community in doing business, the Ugandan government demands a lot of money from the fishermen who get access to their waters."
According to Oguda, Uganda requires all fishermen operating in its waters to be licensed.
"All vessel fishing licenses for non-citizens of Uganda is charged at two million Ugandan shillings which is approximately Ksh75,000 and also each fisherman licenced is charged Ksh4,000 annually for one to get an opportunity to fish in the Ugandan waters," he said.
Despite the huge amount they are required to pay, Oguda noted, the Ugandan authorities still make arrests in Kenyan waters.
"Before paying the annual licence of Ush2,000,000/ (approximately Kshs75,000); the authorities demand that the boat owners pay for two previous years that is 2022 and 2021. That means Kshs 225,000 to get the first licence," the chairman remarked.
He asked the Kenyan leadership and the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Arusha to follow up on the matter and bring the harassment of Kenyan fishermen to a stop.
"We are asking the Kenyan authority to seat down with the neighbourhood to solve the issue once and for all," Oguda added.
