Fresh row could erupt between Uganda and neighboring Kenya if accusations by Kenyan fishermen along Migingo Island that they are tortured by Uganda police marine officers do stand.
According to the fishermen, marine officers arrest and detain them for weeks without trial which affects their livelihoods.
During a harmonizing meeting at the Namayingo district headquarters on Tuesday, the fishermen alleged that the lake has boundaries separating both countries, which are well known to the security operatives within the area, but that they are surprised that the marine officers cross the demarcated areas to arrest them.
According to one of the fishermen Okumu Josephat, he was last week battered and detained by marine officers for three days.
The chairman of the beach management unit in Homa Bay County Edward Oremo who also represented the Kenyan fishermen says that cases of torture have been raised against Uganda police leadership, but the situation has not changed.
He adds that on Monday night, the police canned 9 Kenyan fishermen, and left them to lie along the lake shores, prompting them to approach the district leadership for a solution to curb the torture cases, which he says might breed insecurity in the area.
Opiira says that they have harmonized to ensure security on the island through information sharing between Uganda police and Kenyan security officers.
He adds that all fishermen operating on the island have been tasked to register with Uganda police to avoid piracy.
