Fishing at the Lake Victoria. Traders have complained of alleged harassment from the Ugandan Police officers. [Photo/Youtube]
The border dispute between Kenya and Uganda deep inside Lake Victoria persists, with Uganda officers resorting to excessive force in handling Kenyan fishermen
The traders claim that they have suffered at the hands of the Ugandan officers, who seem to be the only ones who know how far the Kenyan border extends.
Hundreds of Kenyan fishing boats are detained in Uganda, long after the fishermen were released from custody for allegedly venturing into Ugandan waters.
Most traders are now scared to venture into the waters, as any fishing excursion turns out to be a nightmare.
Hundreds of Kenyan fishermen continue to suffer at the hands of these officers and are forced to pay heavy fines and some are sent to custody for allegedly moving into Ugandan waters.
As a result, many of the fishermen have lost their source of livelihood, and are now calling the government to offer them a permanent solution.
Three East African countries share the waters of LakeVictoria. Tanzania has the lion’s share, estimated at 49 percent, while Uganda enjoys a 45 percent stake.
Kenya has the smallest percentage, a mere 6 percent.