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.
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.
According to reports, they lost their lives on Tuesday morning around 2 am in the Lake Albert waters after their fishing boat was hit by strong winds, forcing it to capsize. Despite sounding an alarm, it was not possible for other fishermen who were on the lake to reach them in time to save their lives since they were a distance away.
The affected fishermen are from the landing sites of Sebigoro, Kyehoro, and Nkondo in Kikuube, Kaiso, Kijangi, Fofo Rwentali, Mbegu, Kiryamboga in Hoima, Ndaiga, and Kitebere in Kagadi, Bugoigo, Butiaba, Walukuba and Wanseko in Buliisa.
Steven Bahemuka a fisherman at Kahendoro landing site says fishing is now becoming more expensive following the rise in fuel prices adding that retail units have now set their own prices.
There are approximately 56,000 fishermen on Lake Albert who harvest more than 100,000 tons of fish per year. But the Fisheries Protection Unit launched a massive crackdown on illegal fishing gear in August and has never ceased its operation against those involved in illegal Fishing since then.
The Uganda Fisheries & Fish Conservation Association Chairman Seremos Kamuturaki told MPs that using a 28 feet boat is very problematic because different lakes have different sizes to accommodate all the fishermen. He says that some lakes are deeper than the others whereas others are shallow too shallow to accommodate the size of the boat prescribed by the Fish Act.
According to Ndifula, the operations that are ongoing are aimed at strengthening national capacities to eliminate illegal fishing activities and increase the protection of transboundary resources. He says that the operations will spread to all the landing sites on Lake Albert until all illegal fishing activities are stopped.
The seven were arrested for entering the country illegally through Lake Edward. They were deported on Thursday through the Mpondwe border in Kasese district.
The seven suspected militiamen, four of them dressed in the DRC military uniform, placed several fishermen at gunpoint and ordered them to surrender their fishing gear. After executing their mission, they crossed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Ethien Arua, one of the affected fishermen.
The suspects are Patrick Balitwaha and John Byaruhanga both fishermen attached to Kijangi landing site in Mbegu parish, Kabaale sub county in Hoima district.
The injured fishermen are Seremos Byaruhanga, Robert Amukuhikirize and Deo Busobozi, all attached to Nsunzu B landing site in Buhuka Parish Kyangwali sub county, Kikuube district. They were shot and injured at around 5a.m near the Senjojo landing site in Buhuka parish.
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 deceased fishermen have only been identified as AJaruva and Richard both attached to Bugoma landing site in Buhuka parish Kyangwali sub county in Kikuube district. The incident happened on Saturday evening at around 5p.m.
Robert Ofoi, one of the affected fishermen wonders why the government has left them to suffer in the hands of the suspected Congolese militiamen who have continued to cause untold suffering to them.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson says that the suspected Congolese militiamen that were dressed in DRC military uniform raided the lake and placed several fishermen at gunpoint, and ordered them to surrender the boats to them.
