Sigh of relief to hundreds of fishermen in Lake Victoria following bilateral talks between Kenya and Uganda to address the regular harassment of fishermen by security personnel from the neighbouring country for encroachment and violation of the fishing policies.
In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while responding to the question raised by Busia Women Rep. Catherine Omanyo on decisive measures by the government to address the persistent oppression of fishermen in the lake by security from neighbouring countries, the Ministry briefed on the bilateral talks held on May 12th to 14th 2024 in an effort to identify the underlying issues.
“Kenya and Uganda have enjoyed long cordial relationships, dating back to colonial days, whose relationship cuts across social and economic spectrums,” she noted.
The meeting, which resolved to harmonise the policies on the lake, will see fishermen trained and engaged in the use of the right fishing gear so as to prevent fishermen from fishing premature fish.
The Ministry has resolved to regularly engage the Uganda counterparties through the Kenyan Embassy.
“Besides the use of the Embassy, some of these issues will be resolved through the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) of April 2022 between Kenya and Uganda, which is implemented through the Joint Defence Committee (JDC),” she highlighted.
According to the agreement of JDC, it recognises the importance of sustainably managing shared resources by the communities living along the border for socio-economic development and peaceful cooperation.
The timely concern by Ms. Omanyo came at a time Kenyan fishermen continue to be arrested, with a total number of over 20 fishermen serving jail terms or in detention in the neighbouring country. This is according to Beach Management Unit Reports in Busia.
“Fishing remains a vital economic activity of families in Bunyala and Samia Sub-counties, contributing both directly and indirectly to 40 per cent of economic activities in Busia County. Therefore, any security issue which threatens its sustainability must be dealt with urgently,” stressed Omanyo.
In the years 2023, over 230 Kenyan fishermen were arrested while in Lake Victoria for encroachment or fishing with kits which violated the lake policies. 17 boats and over 32 fishing nets were destroyed for failure to meet the required standard.
The drastic reduction of the fish in the lake has affected the fishing business in the region, “and that is why I am calling upon all governors from Busia, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, and Kisumu to embrace fish cage farming as a measure to mitigate this lake conflict.
“The fish population has gone down. Both the County and National governments whose population depends on the lake for survival must now develop a new farming model, either to restock the fish or by introduction of fish cage farming, so as to save the lives of those who depend on the lake and earn a living,” said Omanyo.
Both Kenyan fishermen and fish traders from Busia in the recent past have decried extortion and harassment from officials from Uganda, who demand abnormal fees from them to allow them to transport their fish to the DRC.
The move saw Kenyan traders lose consignments of fish worth Sh. 50 million to the Ugandan military, who impounded the five trucks before offloading and disposing of the entire goods.
“Last year I was among the traders who lost 90 tonnes of fish worth 50 million to Ugandan authorities; we are still paying loans we took from banks even as we think of the next move,” said Judy Atieno, a fish vendor in Busia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affair in their resolution with Uganda counterparts and JDC, agreed as follows:
Ø Both governments must embark on sensitising their fishermen to obtain licenses and have the right fishing gear.
Ø Kenyan fishermen who wish to fish in Uganda must obtain a license to operate there.
Ø Any arrest of fishermen must be done by security officers in uniform to avoid confrontation and extortion by brokers and criminals who operate in the lake.
Ø Joint meetings and regular engagement to iron out differences and any miscommunications which must arise.
The resolution will see Kenyan fish traders and fishermen continue to export over 800 metric tonnes of fish to the DRC and South Sudan on a weekly basis, a business which has employed over four thousand youths in Busia County.
By Absalom Namwalo
