Summary:

• Ugandan fishermen accuse Kenyan counterparts of vandalizing returned boats, suspecting retaliation for impounding illegal fishing gear, highlighting ongoing tensions over control and fishing policies on Lake Victoria.

Fishermen in the Ugandan region of Busia District have accused their Kenyan counterparts of damaging their boats upon their return, months after the vessels were initially stolen. The incident unfolded in September when 14 transport boats, along with fishing nets and boat engines, went missing. The Ugandan fishermen quickly suspected their Kenyan counterparts of involvement in the theft.

Moses Bwire, a fisherman, reported that the Kenyan Coast Guard later returned 13 of the 14 boats, but three of them were found to be vandalized. Some boats had their number plates removed, while others had sideboards replaced with old timber, according to Bwire. He highlighted that a functional boat should maintain buoyancy, but three of the returned boats had sunk and required repair to become usable again.

The alleged boat theft is believed to be in retaliation for the Ugandan fishermen impounding illegal fishing gear and arresting some Kenyan nationals during a previous operation. Despite controlling only 5 percent of Lake Victoria, Kenya has adopted a liberal policy that has allowed illegal fishing to thrive, leading to concerns about the depletion of fish stocks. In contrast, Uganda has implemented stringent measures, including the deployment of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), to combat illegal fishing.

Historically, territorial disputes between Uganda and Kenya, such as the 2009 conflict over the control of Migingo Island, have been fueled by the lack of a marked boundary on Lake Victoria. Migingo, although not the largest or most resourceful island on the lake, is situated in a fish-rich area, contributing to tensions between the two countries.