This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
On July 27, 2019, at least 30 Kenyan fishermen were arrested by Uganda Revenue Authority officials in Homa Bay County, western Kenya, on Saturday and were set free after paying a collective fine of Ksh180,000 ($1,800).
The fishermen were being detained on Hama Island in Uganda and were accused of trespass and use of illegal fishing gears in Lake Victoria.
According to Homa Bay County Beach Management Units Networks Chairman Edward Oremo, the fishermen were accused of using ice during fishing, which increases the shelf life of fish and enables fishermen to stay in the lake for several days.
Mr. Oremo stated that the Ugandan government does not permit this practice, and the fishermen were also accused of using fishing nets that would capture all types of fish, including small ones, which discourages breeding.
After negotiations, the officers in Uganda resolved to set the fishermen free after paying the fine, and among the 10 boats that were confiscated, six boats were each fined Ksh30,000 ($300), while the other four boats were released without paying any fine.
The fishermen were also given back their fishing gears and warned against using the prohibited nets.
As of July 29, 2019, the fishing community in Homa Bay has called for government intervention to tame the arrests of fishermen by Ugandan authorities.
