On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, a Ugandan soldier allegedly shot and killed two Kenyan fishermen. The incident took place near the Kenya-Uganda border in Busia County, as confirmed by the Kenyan Police.
According to police, the fishermen were identified after their bodies were recovered. They were fishing in Kenyan waters when they were approached by the Ugandan soldiers.
The fishermen were traveling from Mareka in Port Victoria to Simba Island when they encountered the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers. The Ugandan soldiers ordered them to stop. The soldiers questioned the fishermen about their presence in the area, and a confrontation ensued. One of the soldiers reportedly then took out his gun and shot the fishermen.
“The Ugandan soldiers asked them questions about why they were fishing in the area. A confrontation ensued before one officer took his gun and shot the fishermen,” the police source explained.
In fear for their lives, the remaining fishermen jumped into the water to escape the terrifying situation. Nearby villagers promptly reported the incident to local authorities.
“The rest of the fishermen then jumped into the water and started swimming attempting to escape the wrath of the Ugandan soldiers,” the Port Victoria Police officer explained.
The chairman of the Beach Management Unit contacted the Port Victoria Police, who then relayed the information to the Kenya Coast Guard officers in the area. The Kenya Coast Guard immediately launched an operation.
Unfortunately, they were unable to apprehend the Ugandan soldiers, who managed to escape. However, they were able to rescue the two other Kenyan fishermen who were swimming away from the danger.
The soldier accused the fishermen of fishing illegally in Ugandan waters. But upon investigation, it was found that the nets were located on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria. This indicates that the fishermen had not crossed into Uganda.
The Port Victoria Police confirmed their collaboration with the Kenya Coast Guard and other relevant authorities to ensure that the Ugandan soldiers responsible for the killing of the Kenyan fishermen are brought to justice.
As of now, the Kenyan government has not issued an official statement on the matter. This has left many Kenyan fishermen shocked and fearful of engaging in fishing activities on the lake.
