This archive report was first published on 28 July 2019.
On Saturday, Ugandan authorities apprehended at least thirty Kenyan fishermen from various beaches in Suba South and Suba North in Homa Bay County for allegedly fishing in Ugandan waters.
The fishermen were arrested by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officers in collaboration with their security officials, who also confiscated ten fishing boats, fishing gear, and fish of unknown value.
According to Homa Bay County Commissioner Harman Shambi, the fishermen were taken to Hama Island for detention, but the Ugandan authorities have yet to provide an official statement on the arrests.
“We have not got an official communication from Uganda to take appropriate measures into the matter,” Shambi said.
The incident is the latest in a series of arrests of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan authorities, with Homa Bay County Beach Management Units Network Chairman Edward Oremo decried the persistent arrests as a setback to the fishing community in the county.
“Fishermen are tired of making losses in the hands of Ugandan authorities. Today, their fishing gears, boats, and fish worth unknown value have been taken, besides fines which will be imposed on them. For how long will they continue suffering in the hands of Uganda?” Oremo asked.
Just a week ago, three fishermen from Nyandiwa Beach in Suba South were arrested and detained at Hama Island by Ugandan Security personnel, only to be released four days later after paying a joint fine of Sh30,000.
