Hannington Baluku, who was supervising the deceased on the farm told URN that because of the highhandedness of the FPU personnel, people in the area are often scared whenever they unexpectedly encounter them.
The destroyed fishing gear includes boats, monofilament nets, solar batteries, bulbs, hooks, and and were burnt alongside impounded immature fish catch.
Since August this year when the FPU operations intensfied on Lake Albert to fight illegal fishing practices, there have been no attacks on Ugandan fishermen.
The engines were impounded from various landing sites on Lake Albert in the Bunyoro sub-region during operations against illegal fishing gear in August.
The immature fish was impounded from various landing sites on Lake Albert in the Bunyoro sub-region, where the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU has been conducting operations against illegal fishing gear since August.
They say several motorcycles that were impounded for transporting immature fish are also being used to transport soldiers attached to the unit. The fishermen wonder why the FPU uses their impounded fishing gear to carry out operations on the lake yet the government gave them all the necessary resources to conduct the operations.
Those fleeing are from the landing sites of Butiaba, Wanseko, Bugoigo andKabolwa in Buliisa, Kijangi, Kaiso, Rwentale, Runga and Mbegu in Hoima, Nkondo, Sebigoro, Kyehoro, Bugoma and Kyekapere in Kikuube, Ndaiga and Kitebere in Kagadi.
The deceased has only been identified as Owonda, a fisherman attached to Kijangi landing site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub county in Hoima district. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson confirmed the incident saying they have launched investigations.
Lt. Reuben Ndifuna, the spokesperson for Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU says that they destroyed 52,575 pieces of monofilament nets, 8,457kg of immature fish, 35,442, 10,881 illegal boats, 1,463 solar batteries and 189,103 illegal hooks among others.
According to Ndifula, the operations that are ongoing are aimed at strengthening national capacities to eliminate illegal fishing activities and increase the protection of transboundary resources. He says that the operations will spread to all the landing sites on Lake Albert until all illegal fishing activities are stopped.
The illegal fishing gear was impounded during various operations in Buliisa, Hoima, Kikuube, Kagadi and Ntoroko districts under the Command of Lt. Colonel Dick Kaija, the Commandant of the Fisheries Protection Unit.
James Elocu, one of the survivors told our reporter in a phone interview that they entered the lake around 6:00pm when there were no signs of bad weather. He explains that as soon as they started fishing, heavy rains accompanied by a storm started forcing them to seek refuge from the moving island.
The illegal fishing gear was impounded in various operations, which started on Monday this week in Kikuube, Kagadi and Ntoroko districts under the Commander of Lt. Colonel Edward Ijjo.
Ivan Yeko one of the residents says the soldiers of the FPU have killed some fishermen who have been confronted by the soldiers on the lakes, other fishermen say they have been beaten by the soldiers and their boats banned on the lakes
David Ongom Mudong, the East Kyoga Region Police Spokesman, says the contractor has been charged with sabotaging government program vide SD Reference 35/07/08/2020 of CPS Serere. He says police are conducting inquiries into the matter.
Sam Opolot, an elder in Kagwara Landing Site wants all the fishermen engaged in illegal fishing prosecuted. He observes that it has persisted because there is no punitive action for the culprits.
Dr Edward Rukunya, the Director of Fisheries Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries- MAAIF says that the dilapidated structure will be rehabilitated this financial year.
