The boat engines and the fishing boats belonging to Congolese fishermen were confiscated by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) while on the lake Albert waters in Buliisa and Pakwach districts. They were confiscated between July 2024 and May 2025.
They argue that the absence of a clear border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to frequent disputes on the lake, with fishermen from both sides often arrested for allegedly crossing into foreign waters.
The leaders say the absence of a passenger and cargo ferry services on the lake Albert connecting the two countries has hampered trade between the two countries.
The leaders say many fishermen have lost their fishing gear including fishing boats, engines, nets and hooks while others have been shot and killed by the suspected militia.
According to the residents and leaders, there is an urgent need to tighten the security surveillance network on Lake Albert's waters and along the shores to ensure that no wrong elements take advantage of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to sneak into the region and cause havoc.
The Congolese comprising of children, women and the elderly started arriving at the Nsonga landing site in Buhuka parish, Kyangwali sub county on Tuesday this week through the lake Albert waters using boats.
Constructed in 2017 with funding from the African Development Bank (ADB) under the multi-national Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management (LEAF 2) project, the facility cost approximately 2 billion Shillings.
Jamony Kilion, a resident of Sunzu Landing Site, revealed that his three houses have been submerged since September, leaving his family to sleep outdoors. Midar Ochama from Songa Landing Site said his two houses were also submerged, forcing him and his family to seek shelter at a relative’s home.
Speaking about the recent operation, Maj. Frank Kanzira, the FPU Operations Officer, noted that over five months, the unit impounded illegal fishing gear worth over UGX 2 billion across major fishing areas in the country.
Uganda Radio Network (URN) visited the area and found that the majority of the affected people are sleeping under trees, in the nearby churches and schools. Others are being accommodated at Butiaba Market while others have erected makeshift structures.
Swizin Tinkamanyire, 77, whose house is on the verge of being submerged, expressed his despair, noting that he has no place to relocate. He recalled how his permanent home was destroyed by the 2020 floods and how this current flooding marks the second time he has faced such a calamity.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that local fishermen and the marine police initiated a search for Andhama's body, which was recovered on Sunday evening.
Godfrey Balikenda, a fisherman at Wanseko landing site in Buliisa, highlighted that the poorly defined boundaries often cause fishermen to inadvertently cross into each other's territories, leading to conflicts.
In 2020, floods that resulted from the rising water levels of lake Albert submerged several homes on the shores of lake Albert in the districts of Kikuube, Hoima, Buliisa and Kagadi.
While on the lake, the fishermen were arrested by the fisheries protection unit-FPU operatives who were patrolling the lake and accused them of using illegal fishing gear.
It is alleged that Okello had gone alone for fishing expedition on the lake Albert waters on Friday, when the hippopotamus emerged from the Lake and grabbed him.
