Congolese militia abduct six Ugandans

Deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango

What you need to know:

  • In 2007, Uganda and DR Congo bickered over the ownership of Rukwanzi Island; the disputed border between the countries runs through an area believed to have billions of barrels of crude oil.

Kampala. Armed men suspected to be Congolese militia have abducted six Ugandan fishermen on Lake Edward in Rukungiri District.

They were abducted on Saturday night while on a fishing expedition.
The victims have been identified as Stillison Byamugisha, Ronald Muhwezi, Allan Akampurira, Kevin Tumwine, Bernard Tumwesigye and Solomon Ainebyona. All are residents of Rwenshama Parish in Rukungiri.

The deputy police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, said security agencies are in touch with the local leaders to help rescue the victims.

“We got a report today that the six never returned from fishing on Saturday. We suspect that they were abducted by militias and we are doing everything to trace their whereabouts and rescue them,” Mr Onyango said yesterday.

This is the third incident of abduction since the year began.
Mr Onyango said in the previous cases, the victims were released days after captivity, but the abductors retained the fishing gear and equipment.

Previous cases
The worst confrontation was in May 2016 when a suspected Congolese armed group attacked Ugandan policemen who were on patrol on Lake Albert and killed three of them.
In April last year, four Ugandan fishermen were abducted by suspected Congolese soldiers on Lake Albert.

On October 22, 2012, a group of about 20 men carrying guns stormed Nkondo Landing Site where they allegedly confiscated mobile phones and fish from Ugandan fishermen in the area.

In August 2007, a Canadian Heritage Oil engineer, Carl Nefdt, was shot dead allegedly by Congolese government forces, when a Heritage exploration barge allegedly crossed into DR Congo waters.

Heritage was accused by Kinshasa of using its Uganda operations to conduct seismic surveys in DR Congo.

In 2007, Uganda and DR Congo bickered over the ownership of Rukwanzi Island; the disputed border between the countries runs through an area believed to have billions of barrels of crude oil.