Four Ugandan fishermen have been kidnapped by suspected Congolese gunmen while they were fishing on Lake Albert in the district Hoima.
According to Geoffrey Komakech the Local Council Five councilor for Buseruka sub county, the incident happened before dawn on Wednesday when seven men armed men pounced on the four fishermen who were fishing with two engine boats.
Komakech identifies the four missing fishermen only as Jakisa, Kadogo, Merici and Fula all residents of Kaiso landing site in Buseruka sub county.
The engines on the boats, fishing gears and other valuables including mobile phones valued at about Shillings 70 million shillings have also been taken.
Komakech on Thursday afternoon petitioned the office of the Hoima Resident District Commissioner Isaac Kawooya asking for the government intervention.
The fishermen are said to be held at Jo landing site in Bunia district, in Ituri province.
Komakech claims that some errant fishermen connive with Congolese soldiers who cross to Ugandan waters on Lake Albert, kidnap some people and their properties before asking for between 700 and 800 US dollars per person before they are released.
David Adubango, whose two engines were taken by the attackers, says the Uganda government should engage their Congolese counterparts to find a lasting solution on how the shared water body can be used.
Adubango wonders why Ugandan fisheries department and security agencies do not arrest Congolese gunmen who usually cross and fish maliciously in fish breeding zones.
Isaac Kawooya, the Hoima RDC says the district security committee has established contact with Congolese immigration officials to aid the process of rescuing the four men and their property.
Kawooya says that there is a growing relationship between the security agencies in Uganda and those in DRC on solving illegal activities and insecurity around Lake Albert adding.
The RDC has issued an introductory letter to a seven-man delegation led by councillor Komakech that will cross to Bunia town to negotiate the release of the fishermen.
Late last year, a cross-border meeting bringing together key security officials from the districts sharing Lake Albert was held in Nebbi, Uganda where a joint protocol was agreed upon on curbing insecurity on the shared water resource.
The outgoing Ambassador of Uganda to the DRC Major James Kinobe participated in the meeting.
