Stephen Birahwa Mukitale, the Buliisa County Member of Parliament demands for an explanation from the Minister of internal Affairs on why Ugandan fishermen continue to be robbed several times.
Members of Parliament from Bunyoro have faulted security personnel for
laxity for the continued attacks by Congolese Militiamen on Ugandan fishermen
on the Lake Albert.
The attacks that have seen several boat
Engines, boats, nets and fish confiscated by suspected Congolese Militiamen
since last year in the landing sites of Kaiso, Butiaba, Kyehoro, sebigoro, Ndaiga, Walukuba, Kijangi, Fofo,
Bugoigo and Rwentali in the districts of
Buliisa, Hoima, Kikuube and Kagadi.
The Congolese militiamen invade the
lake while armed with guns putting the fishermen at gunpoint ordering them to surrender all their fishing gear. After
robbing the gear, they cross with them to DR Congo and later ask for ransom to
have the fishing gear returned.
The recent incidents were last week at the landing sites of Bugoigo, walukuba, somsio
and Butiaba in Buliisa district where the suspected Congolese militiamen armed
with guns raided the area robbing 35 boat engines and crossed with them to DR
Congo. To date, the fishermen have never
recovered the boat Engines. The militias are asking for 1.5 million
shillings to have each of the robbed boat engines returned to the owners.
Stephen Birahwa Mukitale, the Buliisa County
Member of Parliament demands for an explanation from the Minister of Internal Affairs on why Ugandan fishermen continue
to be robbed several times.
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Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County MP fears that more Ugandan fishermen
could lose their lives following the persistent attacks if security officials
in the region continue to keep a deaf ear on the attacks.
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Tophace Kaahwa Byagira, the Kikuube District
Woman Member of Parliament says the attacks are regrettable. She tasked the
security chiefs in the country to come up with a clear statement on the fate of
Ugandan fishermen on the Lake Albert. She says most fishermen have lost
their income following the attacks since all of their fishing gears have been
stolen.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region
Police spokesperson says they are making all possible efforts with the Congolese
security counterparts to find a lasting solution to the persistent attacks.
He says that they will hold a cross border meeting with security
operatives from the DR Congo and key on the agenda will be how both countries
can join efforts to end attacks on the lake.
On March 1, 2019, three suspected armed
Congolese Militiamen raided Kyehoro Landing site in Kikuube district and
abducted a Ugandan fisherman. The
Militiamen raided the area and abducted 40-year-old Piboth Opio, a fisherman attached to Kyehoro landing site and
crossed with him together with his fishing gear to the Democratic Republic of
Congo. The gear included a boat, a set of fishing net and a boat engine.
They have since asked for ransom to have him released.
In November 2018, Twelve Ugandan
fishermen were gunned down by suspected Congolese Militiamen in three different
attacks near Kaiso Landing site in Tonya parish in Hoima district.
