Kenyans Killed at Lake Victoria

A Ugandan soldier on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, allegedly shot and killed two Kenyan fishermen after a confrontation on Lake Victoria waters.

The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the incident occurred near Kenya-Uganda border in Busia County.

According to the police, the fishermen, who were immediately identified after the recovery of their bodies, were fishing in Kenyan waters when they were approached by the Ugandan soldiers, leading to the chaotic scenes.

“We were told that the fishermen were traveling from Mareka in Port Victoria to Simba Island when they encountered the Ugandan People Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers who forced them to stop.

The Ugandan soldiers asked them questions about why they were fishing in the area. A confrontation ensued before one officer took his gun and shot the fishermen,” the officer explained.

Terrified by the events that took place at around 7 pm, the other fishermen jumped into the water in order to escape the terror that was meted upon them.

“The rest of the fishermen then jumped into the water and started swimming in an attempt to escape the wrath of the Ugandan soldiers,” the Port Victoria Police officer explained.

Luckily for the fishermen, villagers from the dry land immediately reported the matter to local authorities.

The chairman of the Beach Management Unit reached out to police officers at Port Victoria who transmitted the same report to Kenya Coast Guard officers in the area.

“Kenya Coast Guards immediately mounted an operation and went straight to the location. The Kenya Coast Guard officers did not manage to arrest the Ugandan soldiers who escaped but they were able to rescue two Kenyans who were swimming out of the waters.

“The soldier reportedly accused the fishermen of fishing illegally in Ugandan waters, but the nets were found on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria, which means that the fishermen had not crossed into Uganda.

Port Victoria Police boss confirmed that they were working with Kenya Coast Guard and other relevant authorities to bring the Ugandan soldiers to justice for the wanton killing of Kenyan fishermen.

However, the Kenyan government was yet to release an official statement 

on the matter which left many Kenyan fishermen shocked and scared of visiting the lake for fishing activities.