Twenty four Kenyan fishermen were arrested in the waters of Lake Victoria in Suba Sub-county on Wednesday, Homa-Bay County by Ugandan security personnel and eight of their boats confiscated.
The fishermen were arrested over alleged trespass and use of illegal fishing gears at Sare beach in Suba South and Remba Island in Suba North.
Confirming the incident, Homa-Bay County Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chairperson, Edward Oremo said the officers had arrested 21 fishermen and destroyed seven boats in Suba south before moving to Remba Island in Suba North, where they arrested three other fishermen, one boat and unknown number of fishing gears.
Oremo added that they suspect security personnel from Hama Island in Uganda in collaboration with Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) officials were behind the operation.
He said they have not established the reason behind the arrest adding that they suspect that the fishermen are being detained in Hama Island.
The Homa-Bay County Commissioner (CC), Macharia Irungu confirmed the incident, saying that it is not clear why the fishermen were arrested and have launched investigations into the matter.
Irungu said they did not know where the Kenyan fishermen were being held in the neighbouring country and assured the public that the government was engaging Ugandan authorities to resolve the matter.
By Davis Langat/Natasha Kanisa
