Outcry as pirates attack fishermen on L. Victoria 

Fishermen on some islands and landing sites in the districts of Kalangala and Kyotera, which are close to the Uganda - Tanzania border, have expressed concern over persistent attacks by pirates, who rob and kill fishermen in the area.

The pirates have interrupted the fishing business on the islands of Lujaabwa, Kasensero, Nkose, Gunga and Mawaala, scaring away residents from fishing, especially in the night.

Mr Godfrey Mugwaaya, the chairperson of Lujaabwa Landing Site, says pirates suspected to be coming from neighbouring Tanzania have been attacking the area since 2018 and the latest incident occurred on June 29.

During the attack, Mr Mugwaaya says the pirates descended on the landing site, killed one fisherman and also made off with four boat engines, mobile phones  and unspecified litres of fuel.

One killed

“One of our colleagues Williams Kawuki, 24, who had refused to surrender his mobile phone, was killed,” Mr Mugwaanya says.

Mr Mohammed Lukwago, a fisherman at Lujaabwa Landing Site in Kalangala District, says they later tried to chase the pirates, but they failed to get them.

“They [pirates] had a boat with a more powerful engine compared to ours. And in most of these attacks, they carry machetes [pangas] and sometimes guns,” he says.

During two previous attacks, one at Mawaala Landing Site in 2018, the pirates made off with six boat engines and also broke into fuel stores and stole at least 2,000 litres of petrol. 

In another attack in 2019, the pirates killed one person and stole four boat engines from fishermen on Nkose Island.

“I was a victim during the 2019 incident. The pirates, robbed me together with five other colleagues at night and it was very clear that they were coming from the Tanzanian side [of Lake Victoria],” Mr Mugwanya addds.

Mr Vincent   Lwasa, another fisherman at Mirindi Landing Site, appeals to the government to deploy marine police personnel to patrol the lake and arrest pirates and other criminals terrorising the area. 

“We lack security on the lake and it appears like no one is in charge,” Mr Lwasa says.

The latest incident comes just weeks after unknown pirates also attacked Kasensero Landing Site in Kyotera District and made off with two boat engines and unknown sums of money.

Mr Solomon Kizito, a fisherman at Kasensero Landing Site, says piracy had reduced in the area because of their strong cooperation with both Uganda and Tanzania security authorities, but that they were shocked to get information that their colleagues had been attacked by suspected pirates.

“The attackers made off with fish and a brand new boat engine which our colleagues had on the boat,” he said.

Mr Vincent Ochan, the officer-in-charge of marine operations in Kalangala District, says he is aware of some robbery incidents on the lake, but adds that the masterminds are local robbers.

“These are local thieves, you can call them machete-wielding thugs who have been disturbing fishermen for quite a long time. 

Unfortunately, we have not yet arrested any member of this new gang. In 2018, we managed to arrest four of them, who had stolen boat engines at Kachanga Landing Site in Bufumira Sub-county,” he said in a telephone interview. 

Mr Ochan warned the fishermen against going fishing while drunk.

“We have realised many fishermen enter the lake when they are drunk and when they get misunderstandings with other people, they think about fighting, which has caused them problems,” he said.

Past incidents

On May 23 last year, suspected pirates attacked fishermen at Kasensero Landing Site in Kyotera District, leaving one dead and two others injured. Police identified the deceased as Aloysius Welaga, while those who sustained injuries included Abbey Mawanda and Sebastian Ssengabi.

On February 19, 2016, suspected pirates attacked Mirindi Landing Site in Kalangala District, killing one fisherman and injuring others before making off with two boat engines. The suspects, who were reportedly armed, attacked a store at the landing site where fishermen keep their boat engines.

Police identified the deceased as Swaibu Wasswa. Those injured included Disan Kimera, Hassan Bugembe and Guster Sserubiri.

On June 5, 2015, pirates believed to have come from Tanzania attacked and killed at least four fishermen at Kasensero Landing Site in Rakai District and the assailants made off with money and boat engines, among other valuables. 

Police identified the deceased fishermen as Isaiah Mbabazi, Gerald Muyunga, Godfrey Ssemwanga, and Steven Kikambi, all residents of Kasensero Landing Site.

This incident occurred a few months after unknown pirates also attacked Ddimo Landing Site in Masaka District and Kasensero Landing Site in Rakai District and stole boat engines and unknown sums of money.