This archive report was first published on 28 July 2019.
On Saturday, Ugandan officials from the Revenue Authority (URA) arrested at least 30 Kenyan fishermen while they were fishing in Lake Victoria.
According to Beach Management Unit (BMU) officials in Homa Bay County, western Kenya, the fishermen were detained in Hama Island, but it is unclear why they were taken there.
BMU Chairman Edward Oremo stated that URA officials confiscated nets and 10 fishing boats, as well as the fishermen's catch.
"The Ugandans also took their fish. They were all escorted to Uganda where they were locked up," Oremo said.
The fishermen were from various beaches in Suba North and Suba South sub-counties.
URA officials conducted a raid in Sare and Kiwa beaches in Suba South, confiscating five boats and arresting 15 fishermen.
They then proceeded to Suba North, where they arrested 15 more fishermen and confiscated five other boats.
Homa Bay County Commissioner Harman Shambi confirmed the arrests, stating that his office was yet to receive a comprehensive statement on why the fishermen were detained.
Shambi added that Homa Bay BMU officials were on their way to Uganda to find out why the fishermen were arrested and to begin the process of setting them free.
On July 21, three Kenyan fishermen from Nyandiwa Beach in Suba South were arrested and detained on the same island by Ugandan security agents, but were later released after paying a collective fine of Sh30,000.
The fishing community in Homa Bay has called on the government to intervene to end the frequent arrests, which have left families worried about their source of livelihood.
Suba South MP Johan Mbadi and his Suba North counterpart Millie Odhiambo have assured fishermen that their problems will soon be solved, citing plans by the government to purchase a patrol boat to protect them from alleged harassment by Ugandans.
"As a member of the budget committee, we had resolved to purchase a boat that will be used in protecting our fishermen," Mbadi said.
