Two fishermen were allegedly shot dead by the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) officer while fishing in Lake Victoria at the Sumba area in Budalang’i on Monday evening.

Bunyala OCPD Isaiah Mose stated that one fisherman succumbed on the spot while another died while undertaking treatment at Port Victoria Sub-county Hospital.

However, the Kenya coast guard police responded to the incident and saved three other fishermen still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“We received the incident from our coast guard police where our fishermen were ambushed by the Ugandan arm, who shot and killed 2 fishermen last night as a result of confrontation. Our officers managed to rescue 3 other fishermen,” Mose confirmed.

The fishermen, led by chairperson Marenga Beach Godfrey Ogutu, are now calling on the leadership in the county and security team to engage with the Ugandan counterpart to find a lasting solution.

“The incidents of Kenyan fishermen being harassed in the lake are common, we are urging Kenyan government to protect its people from such malicious attacked,” said Ogutu.

Over 60 of the over 75 Kenyan fishermen detained while fishing in Lake Victoria during the past six months have been released, while the remaining 15 are either still being held or have vanished in the hands of Ugandan security personnel.

The head of the Bumbe Beach Management Network, Polycap Juma, lamented the lack of government assistance in the harassment of Kenyan fishermen in the lake. He did praise the Kenya Coast Guards' recent efforts, though.

“Kenyan fishermen have lost over Sh 4.5 million through extortion and boats destroyed over the past six months. As we speak, a number of our fishermen and over five boats have been detained in Uganda,” said Juma.