By Okong’o Oduya
The Kenyan and Ugandan authorities have agreed to put an end to the protracted harassment of Kenyan fishermen who have long suffered in the hands of Ugandan security personnel at Lake Victoria by introducing surface radars to monitor boats which ply the lake to replace security personnel in order to protect fish industry in the region.
This was arrived at on over the weekend when President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni met in Busia while launching the Busia One Stop border post.
The two Heads of States promised to bring sanity in the lake after Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong asked President Yoweri Museveni to intervene and stop his soldiers from harassing Kenyan fishermen operating on Lake Victoria.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong accused the Ugandan authority of harassing fishermen “Just imagine forcing someone to eat raw fish. It is not something to be happy about. Your security officers are doing this to my people and I know it is not a good thing. This kind of treatment to our people should be discouraged as a way of promoting the unity of East African Cooperation,”
President Yoweri Museveni admitted that he has been applying the Guerilla warfare to protect the harvesting of premature fish in the lake a move he said is paying. He accused Busia Governor Ojaamong of protecting Kenyan fishermen saying “The fishermen are fishing undersized fish in the lake Nalubale(Victoria) without considering the negative impact it has on the economy of the region”.
Museveni noted that when he ascended to power he saw importance of coming up with fish plants one in Jinja eastern Uganda and with time the factories increased in number to 22 but unfortunately some had to close down since the fish population declined as a result of undersized fishing
“I took these measures after realizing that the fish industry in my country was crumbling. I had 22 fish processing plants but with time the plants were collapsing and when I asked what was happening I was told fish had reduced in number in lake Victoria and through my investigation realize poor fishing method was playing a big role and I moved in to put it to stop and as we speak it is paying off,” Museveni said
Museveni also said it is possible the military officers have their limitation while dealing with the menace since it is not their task to fight errand fishermen and women in the lake but it is a worthy cause
According to the Ugandan President, it is the responsibility Ugandan security officers and fish department to protect fish in the lake but because of corrupt officers the sector was dwindling, opting to use military personnel to enforce law and order in the lake. A move he says is paying off since the lake in Ugandan side has enough stock of mature fish, cautioning Kenyan fishermen that he will not tolerate fishing of undersized fish in ‘his’ side.
“It is not the responsibility of military officers to protect fish, it belongs to the fish department and police officers but because of corruption, I was forced to use them. Although they also have their limitation at the end, their effort is paying,” he said
However Museveni revealed that talks are underway between him, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and their Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli to use modern ways of protecting Lake Victoria by use of radar. A move he said it can only be achieved if both countries will be committed to it.
He further said Uganda alone cannot protect the lake alone since it is a natural resource that is shared among three countries in East Africa and the only way to achieve it is by every state that shares its waters to jointly work together to stop illegal fishing within the lake.
“The talks are underway with President Uhuru and Dr. John Magufuli of Tanzania to introduce surface radar to monitor boats plying the lake instead of using soldiers. There is need to agree on the standard size of boats to operate in the lake since some sizes may not be detected by the radar,” he said.
The same case has to be applied to Mount Elgon forest. People, mostly from Bagisu community from Uganda and Sabaoti community in Kenya living around the mountain go to the forest to look for traditional herbal medicine but in return they end up cutting down the trees for timber purposes affecting the water catchment areas.
However, President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to defend the Governor Ojaamong on claims of harassment by Ugandan military adding that the Kenyan fishermen in the lake can now go ahead with their daily duties without fear, but also cautioned fishermen not to engage in illegal business in the lake.
