According to Aweera, the deceased who is believed to be in his 50’s isn’t known in the area. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson, says the body is lying at Buliisa general hospital pending postmortem and positive identification. .
The deceased identified as Bright Musinguzi 32, a resident of Kigoya village Buliisa sub county Buliisa district was swept away by floods resulting from the water levels of Lake Albert on Wednesday Morning.
John Kato, a fisherman at Sebigoro landing site in Kikuube district, says the fate of the fishermen is unknown since they haven’t heard from them since Saturday. He wants the government to immediately intervene and compel the Congolese government authorities to set the fishermen free.
The deceased fishermen have been identified as Joseph Jabila 19 and Angomoko Jakwonga 27 both fishermen attached to Kiryamboga landing site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub county Hoima district.
The flood victims comprising mainly mothers and children have taken refuge in schools and churches. Majority of the displaced households have called for resettlement.
Following the floods, the displaced victims sought shelter at Butiaba, Bugoigo and Wanseko Primary Schools among others, where they are still living up to date.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network on Friday that the four suspected Congolese militiamen all armed with guns struck at around 1AM and put the Ugandan fishermen at gunpoint before ordering them to surrender to them the two boat engines.
The deceased has been only identified as Kumakech, a fisherman attached to Mbegu landing site in Kabaale Sub county Hoima district. His other colleague who survived the boat accident is only identified as Opio.
The victims now want the government to acquire land and have them resettled since the floods are not likely to end soon and could affect their livelihoods for many years.
Henry Irumba, the LC 1 Chairperson Kaiso Landing site, says the families of the affected fishermen are experiencing untold suffering since they can no longer afford proving for their families.
The boats and Engines were confiscated in April this year after the boat owners defied a night-time ban on fishing activities on Lake Albert occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic.
According to Udota, he resisted the eviction orders prompting the soldiers to demolish his house. He has now pitched camp under a tree at the neighboring Bugoma landing site.
William Bamuturaki, one of the affected fishermen at Tugombilli landing site says the situation is unbearable for them since they have nowhere to go and lack food.
The Ugandan border with the Democratic Republic of Congo was closed in March, as part of a lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Subsequently, the government heavily deployed teams comprising Uganda Peoples Defense Forces-UPDF and Uganda Police Force to guard the closed Border along the shores of Lake Albert.
More than 200 landing sites in the districts of Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube were listed for closure by the government, for allegedly facilitating the illegal movement of people to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo at the height of a lockdown occasioned by an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease.
The most affected people are from the landing sites of Kawaibanda, Butiaba, Boma, Kigangaizi, Tugombili, Walukuba, Bugoigo, Kamagongoro, Kigungu, Serule, Piida, Waisoki, Triangle and Magali, where the majority of the affected people are sleeping in the cold, under trees, in the nearby churches and schools.
More than 200 landing sites in the districts of Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube were listed for closure by the government, for allegedly facilitating the illegal movement of people to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo at the height of a lockdown occasioned by an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease. The first phase of the process saw at least 61 landing sites closed in May.
Patrick Okello, a resident of Mbegu landing site in Hoima district, says they received information from DR Congo indicating that 8 bodies of the boat accident victims were recovered from the lake on Monday evening by Congolese fishermen.
The occupants of the boat allegedly sneaked out of the country and crossed to Mukambu in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the burial of their relative, who died on Saturday. The boat capsized during their return journey.
