Fishermen in Kyotera District say attacks on Lake Victoria have cost more than 20 colleagues their lives and left others without boats and equipment, prompting calls for stronger security and better public services.
Fishermen at Kasensero landing site in Kyotera District have appealed to the government to strengthen security on Lake Victoria following reports that more than 20 of their colleagues have been killed in attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Tanzanian assailants.
The fishermen say the attacks have left them living in fear, with some reportedly losing their boats, fishing nets and outboard engines to the assailants.
They want the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to establish a dedicated security unit to protect fishing communities on the lake, similar to arrangements they say exist on Lake Albert.
The concerns were raised during a meeting with the Minister of State for Fisheries, Robert Ndugwa Migadde, who visited the landing site to discuss fisheries regulations and hear challenges affecting fishermen's livelihoods.
The meeting was attended by local leaders and representatives from government institutions.
The fishermen told Migadde that the alleged attacks had resulted in loss of life and property, making it increasingly dangerous for them to venture onto the lake to earn a living.
They alleged that the attackers came from neighbouring Tanzania and assaulted fishermen before stealing their boats, nets and engines. The claims were raised by the fishermen and were not independently verified in the account of the meeting.
“We are living in fear because we do not know whether we shall return home safely whenever we go fishing. Some of our colleagues have lost their lives, while others have lost their boats, nets and engines. We appeal to the government to provide us with adequate security on the lake so that we can work without fear,” the fishermen said.
Beyond security, the community raised concerns about restrictions on the number of boats permitted to operate at Kasensero under revised fisheries regulations.
The fishermen said the new guidelines limit the landing site's permitted boats to 60, despite more than 300 boats operating there.
They asked Migadde to reconsider the allocation, warning that the restriction could leave many households without their main source of income.
“We have more than 300 boats operating at this landing site, yet under the new arrangements, only 60 boats are permitted. This is a serious concern for us because many families depend on fishing to survive. We ask the minister to reconsider the decision and find a solution that takes our situation into account,” they said.
The fishermen also cited limited access to healthcare, saying the landing site is home to more than 10,000 people who struggle to obtain timely medical attention because of the distance to public health facilities.
According to residents, the journey to the nearest government hospital can extend to approximately 68 miles, making it difficult to transport patients, particularly during emergencies.
“We have more than 10,000 people living in this community, but accessing healthcare remains a major challenge. When someone falls sick, we have to travel a long distance to reach a government hospital. We appeal to the government to bring health services closer to us because emergencies cannot always wait,” they said.
Major Joseph Ssebukeera, commander of Marine Unit Group 155, which is involved in combating illegal fishing, told the meeting that elections had been conducted for beach management committees at more than 600 landing sites.
The committees are expected to help organise fishing activities, improve management at landing sites and support enforcement of fisheries regulations.
Kyotera Resident District Commissioner Apollo Mugume, meanwhile, asked the government to resolve disputes between some landing sites in the district and the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
The disagreements have reportedly strained relations between fishing communities and forestry officials, prompting calls for government intervention.
Mugume said resolving the disputes would help affected communities and government institutions work together.
Kyotera District Woman MP Fortunate Rose Nantongo asked the government to construct a modern fish-handling facility at Kasensero to improve hygiene and sanitation.
She said the facility would help fishermen handle their catch in cleaner conditions and improve the quality of fish supplied to the market.
Nantongo also cautioned newly elected beach management leaders against allowing partisan politics to interfere with their responsibilities, urging them to prioritise fishermen's interests and the development of their communities.
Responding to the concerns, Migadde said he had agreed to allow two additional landing sites in Kyotera District to operate alongside those already approved by the ministry.
The decision is expected to expand the number of recognised landing sites in the district and could ease some of the challenges facing fishing communities.
“We have agreed to allow two additional landing sites to operate alongside those already approved by the ministry. We want to address the concerns raised by the fishing communities while ensuring that all landing sites comply with the established regulations,” Migadde said.
The minister also encouraged fishermen to explore alternative income-generating activities, including agriculture, to reduce their dependence on fishing alone.
He further pledged to present the community's healthcare concerns to the Ministry of Health for consideration.
For Kasensero's fishing community, however, security remains a pressing concern, with residents seeking stronger protection on the lake alongside improved healthcare access and more opportunities to earn a living.