15 fishermen arrested by Ugandan police released on Ksh. 50,000 fine

Fifteen Kenyan fishermen from Remba Island in Suba North constituency, Homa Bay County, who were arrested and detained by Ugandan security officers, have been released after paying a fine of Ksh. 50,000

The fishermen were arrested on Saturday night by Ugandan Authorities while on a fishing expedition in the waters of Lake Victoria. They were accused of trespassing into Ugandan waters in Lake Victoria.

They were arrested and taken to Hama, where they were detained until Sunday night, when they were released after paying a cumulative fine of Ksh. 50,000 to the Ugandan authorities.

Remba Beach Management Unit chairman Semekiah Okoth Mamra said that the fifteen fishermen were in three boats, and each boat had three fishermen each by the time of the arrest.

Okoth says the officers accused the fishermen of crossing to the Ugandan side while on a fishing expedition, lacking proper fishing licenses and life-saving jackets, among other safety requirements.

The situation escalated when the officers allegedly demanded payment of Ksh. 10,000 per boat, totalling Ksh. 50,000 before they were released.

He is now calling on the Kenyan government to urgently intervene and engage Ugandan authorities, citing frequent cases of harassment faced by Kenyan fishermen operating on Lake Victoria.