The deceased fishermen have only been identified as Ajaruva 35 and Richard 24, both attached to Bugoma landing site in Buhuka parish Kyangwali sub county, Kikuube district.
The security committee unanimously resolved that fishing on Lake Albert be suspended for 32 days, in line with a partial lockdown that was announced by Presidet Yoweri Museveni last week. The commitee observed that some Ugandan fishermen cross to the Democratic Republic of Congo and mix freely with communities on the other side, before crossing back to Uganda, which posses a risk of contracting the virus.
Samuel Kisembo, the Hoima Resident District Commissioner-RDC who is also caretaking Kikuube says they unanimously agreed that fishing on Lake Albert should be suspended for 32 days.
Trouble started when armed Congolese Militiamen approached a boat, which Onen and his colleagues were using and ordered them to surrender their fishing gear to them. The fishermen declined the orders leading to a scuffle with the Congolese militiamen.
According to available information, the gunmen who were dressed in military uniform intercepted the fishermen and ordered them to surrender their fishing gear before they shot them. The forth fisherman identified as Ajaru Chobidongo jumped into the water and managed to get away from the gunmen.
Samuel Kisembo, the Hoima Resident District Commissioner-RDC who is also care taking Kikuube told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday morning that they decided to step up deployment to counter any attacks by suspected Congolese militiamen following the arrest and detention of their colleagues.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network on Tuesday morning that the fishermen alerted police, which retrieved the body from the lake around 6pm and handed it to Buliisa Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Deo Obura, the Albertine regional police commander says that the search will continue until all the remaining missing bodies are recovered from the lake. The retrieved bodies are for five men and four women.
Zawadi Rundi, 20, a survivor says that the boat started losing balance immediately after take-off but many of the occupants thought it was a normal occurrence on the lake.
Baker Ogen, the Fofo landing site LC1 Chairperson told Uganda Radio Network that at the time of the boat accident, the players and the Football fans were heading to Runga landing site in Kibiro parish Kigorobya sub county Hoima district for a football match.
According to Hakiza, the suspects didn’t have any document authorizing them to enter Uganda when they were picked up. He says during the arrest, security impounded four fishing boats, one boat Engine and immature fish belonging to the suspects.
