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.
The accident occurred when a boat carrying 18 passengers capsized near Ususa Landing Site in Kabwoya sub-county, Kikuube district. The boat was sailing to Sebigoro Landing Site.
Authorities in Kikuube and Hoima districts had already announced a suspension of fishing activities, in line with the nationwide lockdown announced by President Yoweri Museveni, as a measure to control person to person interactions and close possible loopholes in the management of the disease.
The two; Opio Ozelle and Singa Kowe were killed in a fire exchange with Uganda Peoples Defense Forces -UPDF soldiers on April 9, 2020, after they were found robbing Ugandan fishermen. Five others were also arrested by the UPDF while on the lake.
Robert Ngabirano, the Head of Marine police in Hoima and Kikuube districts says that some fishermen have become unruly and openly defied the presidential directives on the control of COVID-19. He says that the impounded boats will only be returned to the owners after the lockdown has been lifted.
The bodies were of 56-year-old Piwegi Abyola, 27-year-old Ajaru Owonda and one only identified as Juma all residents of Ususa landing site in Kyangwali sub-county Kikuube district.
The boat was sailing from Kyenyanja landing site in Kabwoya sub-county to Kyakapere landing site in Kyangwali sub-county. Onboard were some of the people forcefully evicted by Uganda peoples Defence forces-UPDF soldiers from Kyenyanja landing site which is said to be one of the illegal landing sites in the area.
The fishermen and their families were evicted on Thursday from Songagagi and Nana landing sites in Kigorobya and Buseraku sub counties respectively in Hoima district.
