Fishermen demand heightened security on Lake Albert

The fishing communities at Kyehoro landing site in Kikuube district are demanding heightened security on Lake Albert following attacks by suspected Congolese gunmen.

Silver Isingoma, a fisherman at the landing site said on Monday that recently many of their colleagues have been attacked and their equipment taken by suspected gunmen.

“We are appealing to the security operatives to increase surveillance on the lake because many of our colleagues have lost their equipment while others are being arrested and beaten,” he said.

Robert Kiruma another fisherman said that following the recent killing of the two suspected DRC militiamen on the lake in the district, other militiamen from Congo cross and cause havoc to Ugandan fishermen while on the lake.

Gilbert Ochai, a fisherman at Senjojo landing site, explains that there is a need for security to intensify patrols on the lake to guarantee the safety of fishermen while on the lake.

Suspected Congolese gunmen on Wednesday last week attacked and killed a Ugandan fisherman on Lake Albert in Kagadi district. 

The fisherman only identified as Ongyer and his four colleagues were attacked, at around 11 PM while fishing near Nguse landing site in Ndaiga sub-county.

Survivors narrated the group were ambushed by five armed with rifles who ordered them to surrender all their fishing gear to them.

When they resisted and tried to flee, the militiamen opened fire on them, shooting Ongyer in the back, killing him instantly.  After the shooting, the suspected DRC militiamen disappeared on the Congo side without robbing anything from the fishermen.

Regina Ngamita, a fisherman, said the fishermen sounded an alarm after the incident and were rescued by fellow fishermen who were carrying out fishing activities on the lake.

Wahabi Bogere, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) for Ndaiga sub-county, said that the attackers are likely to be Bangiti militiamen from the Congo.

Fishermen now demand that UPDF and other security agencies be heavily deployed on the lake and on the shores of Lake Albert to guarantee their safety.

Last week Godwin Angalia the Resident District commissioner for Kikuube district said that a joint security team comprising of the UPDF, Internal Security Organization and the police conducted community engagements with residents at Buhuka landing site in Kyangwali sub-county focusing on addressing insecurity concerns and illegal immigrants on Lake Albert.

Angalia said that they have been receiving complaints about insecurity on the lake and several reports about illegal immigrants.

In May this year UPDF gunned down two suspected Congolese militiamen during a fierce gun battle on Lake Albert in Kikuube District. The clash near the Senjojo landing site in Buhuka Parish, Kyangwali sub-county.

Six other suspected militiamen were injured and arrested, and six firearms were recovered during the operation.

The armed men had crossed into Lake Albert and held six local fishermen at gunpoint, demanding they surrender their boats, fishing nets, and engines. The fishermen managed to alert the UPDF, prompting a rapid military response.

Before the soldiers could intervene, the suspected militiamen opened fire, triggering an exchange that left two of them dead.

In April 2020, two suspected Congolese militiamen were shot dead by UPDF soldiers near Kaiso landing site in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima District.

Five others were arrested and detained at Hoima Central Police Station, and three rifles with 47 rounds of ammunition were recovered.