Armed Congolese militia attack Ugandan fishermen
Mr Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police spokesperson
As the rest of the world was celebrating Christmas, suspected armed Congolese militiamen raided fishermen at Lake Albert in western Uganda and robbed them.
The incident reportedly occurred near Kijangi Village, Tonya parish, Buseruka Sub County Hoima District on Christmas night.
“One Jackson Onyorito was attacked by three armed Congolese putting on police uniform took one engine and one fishing net,” said Mr Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police spokesperson.
The attackers reportedly fled back to the DRC side with the robbed items, witnesses told Police.
Police are following clues to the effect that several other fishermen were attacked on the Lake which straddles along the Uganda-DRC Boarder.
Police suspect the assailants were from Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Hakiza said Police and UPDF will conduct operations on Lake Albert to apprehend suspected militia groups that are terrorizing Ugandan fishermen.
“The operations are meant to restore sanity on Lake Albert and secure Ugandans who have always been tormented by these Congolese,” Mr Hakiza said.
For over three years, Ugandan fishermen have accused Congolese militias of attacking them, abduction and sometimes murder on Lake Albert waters.
In November last year, four Ugandan fishermen were killed on Lake Albert in western Uganda by an armed group suspected to be from the DRC.
When President Museveni was in Hoima district in November last year to launch a Bursary scheme for over 600 learners in the oil rich Albertine region, Mr Muhamad Kiyimba, the central cell LCI Chairman informed the him about the rampant attacks by Congolese armed groups on Ugandan fishermen.
The president in turn warned Congolese against attacking Ugandans and promised to increase army deployments on Lake Albert and other lakes that are on Ugandan boarders.
