Kasensero Fishermen Seek Protection After More Than 20 Reported Deaths

What the report says

Fishermen at Kasensero landing site in Kyotera District, on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria, are asking the government for stronger protection after reporting that more than 20 of their colleagues have been killed in attacks they say were carried out by suspected assailants from Tanzania. According to Nile Post, the community says the violence has also left some fishermen without boats, nets and outboard engines, deepening fears about working on the lake.

The concerns were raised during a meeting with Minister of State for Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Migadde, who visited the landing site alongside local leaders and government representatives. The fishermen called for a dedicated security unit on Lake Victoria, similar to the protection they say is available on Lake Albert. They said the alleged attacks have made it dangerous to continue fishing, which remains the main livelihood for many families in the area. The claims about the attackers were reported by the fishermen and were not independently verified in the account.

The meeting also focused on other long-running pressures facing the community. Fishermen objected to revised fisheries rules that they say limit Kasensero to 60 boats despite more than 300 operating there, and they raised concerns about poor access to healthcare for a settlement they said has more than 10,000 residents. Nile Post reported that local leaders also called for a modern fish-handling facility and help resolving disputes with the National Forestry Authority.

In response, Migadde said two additional landing sites in Kyotera would be allowed to operate and said he would raise the health concerns with the Ministry of Health. He also urged fishermen to consider other income sources. The issues highlight the tension between fisheries regulation, safety, and livelihoods around Lake Victoria.