By KT Reporter
Fishermen operating on Malembo and Ddimo landing sites in Masaka district are protesting the continued harassment and cross-border robberies by their Tanzanian counterparts on Lake Victoria waters.
On Wednesday, the aggrieved fishermen, backed up by the local leaders, stormed the office of the Masaka Resident District Commissioner, demanding urgent intervention in the persistent harassment and planned robberies committed against them by groups from the neighbouring Republic of Tanzania, with whom they share fishing grounds in Lake Victoria.
Godfrey Kaweesi, the Chairperson of Malembo Landing Site Boats Owners and Fish Dealers Association, indicates that they are operating under great risk of attacks by their Tanzanian counterparts, who usually target them for fish catches, fuel, fishing gears and boat engines.
He argues that they have repeatedly sought the intervention of the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) personnel without any remedy, warning that they may be prompted to organise revenge against the violence.
Pheobe Nalikka, the association’s Secretary, accuses their counterparts of laying ambushes in which they beat up Ugandan fishermen, abduct and rob them of their properties and in some instances, some lives have been lost.
She alleges that, unlike the Ugandans, who face the wrath of the FPU soldiers for engaging in illegal fishing practices, the Tanzanian fishermen are still freely casting their prohibited fishing gear within the boundaries of Uganda.
Christopher Sseguya, one of the affected fishermen at Malembo landing site, narrates that he lost two engines after he was waylaid on the lake at night by a hostile group of Tanzanians.
He indicates that the fierce situation has bred insecurity at the landing sites, which is also contributing to offshore murders that he attributes to acts of retaliation between hostile groups.
Dirisa Ssemwanga, another fisherman, observes that the robberies are sponsored by prominent Tanzanian fish dealers whom he accuses of operating with the utmost impunity.
He threatens that should the government fail to intervene in the situation with urgency, they may start confiscating fishing boats and nets cast in the Ugandan waters.
Robert Kambugu, the Masaka district Deputy Resident Commissioner, appealed to aggrieved fishermen to remain calm, indicating that the District Security Committee is going to take a keen interest in the situation.
In the meantime, Kambugu says that they are going to summon the Fisheries Protection Unit area enforcement teams to find ways of ensuring the safety of the fishermen, as they also work out a permanent solution through bilateral discussions with the Tanzanian authorities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
