This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On Lake Victoria, a decades-long fishing tradition has been disrupted by the brutal actions of Ugandan security forces.
For 60-year-old Rajab Daudi Ongoma, a resident of Budalang'i Constituency in Busia County, western Kenya, the nightmare began two months ago when he was arrested by Ugandan security officers while fishing in the lake.
Along with five colleagues, Ongoma was taken to Dolwe Island, where they were subjected to torture, including being whipped with 100 strokes of the cane and forced to eat raw fish.
"They told us the punishment for engaging in illegal fishing in their waters was 100 strokes of the cane. They whipped us and left us hungry in the waters for 12 hours," Ongoma recalled.
After 24 hours, the group was taken to Budalang'i and warned never to be seen in Uganda again "if you value your lives".
According to Ongoma, Ugandan security officials have been targeting Kenyan fishermen, seizing their boats, and forcing them to pay hefty fines.
"There are more than 300 boat engines and thousands of fishing nets on islands manned by Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers," Ongoma said.
Another fisherman, Sylvester Ouro, has been detained twice by Ugandan officers for using an illegal boat.
"They arrested me in May and towed my boat to Munene Island where I was made to kneel in the water for about two hours and forced to eat my catch," Ouro said.
"They hit me in the face, stomach and back when I refused to do as told," he added.
Busia County Beach Management Units Network chairman Sylvester Kaywa has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to protect the over 26,000 fishermen in the county.
"Many of the fishermen have been rendered jobless. Kenyans have become hostages in their own country. Fishermen say the government has abandoned them," Kaywa said.
