The armed gunmen dressed in Congolese military camouflage reportedly put the fishermen at gunpoint and ordered them to surrender to them all the fishing gear they had in their possession.
Musa Asaba, the Butiaba Town Council LCIII Chairperson, told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Monday morning that area residents were alerted when Twinamatsiko's friends failed to locate him while he was in the lake.
Baker Ogen, the LC I Chairperson of Rwentali Landing Site told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Tuesday morning that the body was retrieved by fellow fishermen.
Kasanga Ofungi, the Kyehoro landing site LC I Chairperson, says the deceased’s body was retrieved from the lake on Friday evening after a thorough search. The body has since been handed over to his relatives for burial.
Augustine Bagonza, the Masaka landing site LC1 Chairperson says the decomposing body was spotted by women who had gone to fetch water on Friday at around 9a.m.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja met some of the flood victims at Butiaba and Wanseko landing sites in Buliisa district and assured them that the government will soon find land to resettle them.
The deceased fishermen are Richard Opio 27 and another one only identified as Mugegere both attached to Bugoma-Kinya landing site Buhuka parish in Kyangwali sub county Kikuube.The incident occurred on Sunday Morning at around 7a.m near Kinya landing site.
Vincent Alpha Opio, the Kabwoya sub county LC5 Councilor who doubles as the Kikuube LC5 Vice Chairperson told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Wednesday that the Congolese crossed between Sunday and Monday.They include men women and Children.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network this morning that the arrested fishermen are locked up at Kaiso police station pending transfer to Hoima Central Police station.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday afternoon that the deceased was fishing with his colleague, John Kyaligonza where a hippo attacked their boat causing it to overturn and capsize.
The five identified as Balaka Jarenga, Makuru Onjoka, Claude Nguma, Kakuru Kwamire and Kapaseka Otika, were arrested during heavy gunfire between the militiamen and soldiers of the Uganda peoples Defence Forces-UPDF on Lake Albert on Thursday. Two of their colleagues lost their lives in the exchange.
Last week the District Security Committee in Hoima and Kikuube districts suspended all fishing activities on the lake Albert waters, as a measure to control the spread of Corona virus disease COVID-19.
The ferry that is still operational is being looked at as a threat to people in the Bunyoro sub-region since it carries both Ugandan and foreign nationals into the region.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, says the suspect was picked up on Sunday after clearing 20 Congolese nationals to cross into the district using the porous borders along Lake Albert shores.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson told Uganda Radio network this evening that search for the remaining bodies is ongoing while the survivors are receiving treatment at various health facilities on Ndaiga landing site.
Ajaru Chobidongo, a survivor of the attack told Uganda Radio Network that the suspected militiamen dressed in camouflage uniform attacked their boat and held them at gunpoint. They were eventually ordered to surrender their fishing gear.
According to Obura, four Congolese militiamen, armed with an AK 47 rifle raided Lake Albert waters near Nkondo landing site in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and started robbing fishing gear including fishing nets, hooks and boat engines from Ugandan fishermen.
Stephen Birahwa Mukitale, the Buliisa County Member of Parliament demands for an explanation from the Minister of internal Affairs on why Ugandan fishermen continue to be robbed several times.
The Buliisa District Police Commander, Bosco Arop, says the attacks, which saw the militiamen confiscate 35 boat engines belonging to Ugandan fishermen occurred between Monday and Wednesday.
