The head of state, President Yoweri Museveni says the army will be deployed on Lake Albert to avert persistent attacks on Ugandan fishermen by suspected armed Congolese Militiamen.
The president revealed this last evening during a press conference at Masindi State Lodge. Mr. Museveni says that he has well-trained dedicated and modernized security personnel that are supposed to protect Ugandans on the lake should any attacks happen to them anymore. He says soon security operatives with vast skills will be deployed to protecting the fishermen against any possible attacks.
He further explains that as one of the security measures, surface radar will be installed to monitor all the activities being carried on Lake.
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.
He also directed the fisheries Ministry to ensure that they carry out compulsory boat registration with electronic identifications installed on them across the country.
Ugandan fishermen on the Lake Albert waters have been attacked by suspected Congolese militiamen for many years. But these had stopped only to resume in February last year.
The most affected landing sites are Kaiso, Kyehoro, sebigoro, Kijangi, Mbegu, Walukuba, Bugoigo, Fofo, Kiryamboga, Nkondo, Runga, Ususa and Kabolwa among others in the sub-counties of Kigorobya, Buseruka, Butiaba, Kabwoya and Kyangwali.
The suspected Congolese Militiamen have confiscated fishing gear belonging to Ugandan fishermen worth billions of shillings. Most of the fishermen have abandoned fishing activities due to the persistent attacks.