Sam Twineamazima the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson confirmed the death of a fisherman and said that Policemen retrieved the body from the Lake on Thursday evening.
The suspects have been identified as Bright Prosper, resident of Rubirizi district, Joseph Byamukama of 26 and Bogere Muzidalufa of 21both residents of Kasenyi.
Led by Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition – LOP in Parliament, the Shadow Cabinet accuses the army of impunity and causing a depletion of resources, and unjustifiably restricting fishing activities on the lakes.
Major Stephen Alituha, the FPU Commandant on Lake Edward said that however much the FPU has tried to sensitize Ugandan fishermen on the effects of illegal fishing, the Congolese fishermen remain a big challenge.
Captain Julius Ankunda, the head of the Fisheries Protection Unit on L. George and Kazinga channel, says that the growing population around the fishing communities is putting a lot of pressure on the lake, the reason illegal fishing is persistent.
Charles Omiya, a resident of Karuma Town Council told URN on Sunday that Opota abandoned his teaching job 7 years ago for unknown reasons and to fishing for livelihood.
Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries lifted the ban on Lake Kyoga but directed that only boats with an interior overall length of 28-feet, recommended fishnets and registered fishermen are allowed on the Lake. Although the ministry maintained the deployment of unit personnel to enforce the guidelines, the same are now accused of abetting illegal fishing.
Lt. Musa Mugogo, the fisheries unit Kasese sector commander says the existing laws provide for small penalties which most offenders easily pay, further propelling the illegal fishing activities on the water bodies.
Sam Kigula, the chairperson of Lake Kyoga Integrated Management Organization, an umbrella organization for all districts sharing the lake, explains that during the review meeting, local leaders asked the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) to lift the ban to enable fishermen to resume fishing for survival.
The deceased, identified as Justine Nayiga a fish vendor at Kyebisire landing site and a fisherman at Kibuye landing site in Nakasongola, only identified as Eramu, allegedly died during an operation mounted to arrest those involved in illegal fishing on Tuesday morning.
Rwamirama who has been on a working visit to Kalangala distrust. met veterans from the seven sub counties that make up Kalangala district on Saturday afternoon. He expressed dismay to out increasing reports of their participation in illegal fishing activities.
Robert Kayanzi was shot on Friday at Bosa landing site in Bufumira Sub County, Kalangala District as he tried to flee from Uganda Peoples Defence Force-UPDF soldiers.
The landing site that has a population of 567 people was closed last month on the orders of the regional Fisheries Protection Unit Commander, Lt. Richard Omara. It is alleged that residents were engaged in illegal fishing practices.
Michael Bassajasubi, a businessman at Ggaba landing site told URN that canoes ferry lake sand to Ggaba each day from where it is loaded onto trucks destined for Kampala for construction.
Gen. Muhoozi directed the Hoima District Security Committee to register all Fishermen on the Lake Albert waters to combat the escalating crime along the Uganda-DRC boarder.
In August this year, Soldiers under the UPDF marines fighting against illegal fishing led by Nathan Abaho exchanged fire with residents and SFC soldiers at Kabirango after the former had been denied access to the landing site to pick all illegal fishing materials.
Recently, a group of legislators led by the Kyamuswa County Member of Parliament, Carol Nanyondo Birungi petitioned the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on the illicit activities committed by the Fisheries Protection Unit during their operations against illegal fishing activities.
