The Ugandan security officers yesterday morning released the six Kenyan fishermen they arrested on Friday in Lake Victoria after Sh54,000 ransom was paid.
The six were in three boats. They were arrested near Ringiti Island, while fishing. Penina Aluoch, the owner of the boats, said the Ugandan security personnel demanded ransom of Sh18,000 for each boat. I was forced to pay Sh54,000 to get back my boats, Aluoch said. Islands prone to attack by Ugandan officers are Remba, Kiwa, Mfang’ano and Migingo.
Suba North police boss Charles Mwangi said the six fishermen were released after we negotiated.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Lake Victoria beach management units chairman Tom Guda yesterday asked the government to protect Kenyans from continuous harassment by Ugandan officers.
The MP said they have raised concerns over conflicts between Kenyan fishermen and Ugandan security officers and it is time the state solved the matter. We need the state to come in and solve the matter once and for all. It’s unfortunate Kenyan security officers in Lake Victoria islands don’t even have patrol boats to address insecurity conclusively, she said.
Guda said Kenyan fishermen have been roughed up by Ugandan security personnel when going about their business. What Kenyan fishermen undergo in the hands the Ugandan security officials is not new. The state should end it completely to save our people, he said.
Last week in Siaya, three Kenyan security officers were arrested and disarmed by Ugandan soldiers in Lake Victoria and taken to Uganda by boat.
Siaya county AP boss Patrick Lumumba said the incident involved up to eight soldiers on patrol, who arrived in a Kenyan boat.
2018 The Star, Kenya