Ugandans arrest nine Kenyans on Migingo Island

By Nick Oluoch

Nine Kenyans were arrested and their three boats and fishing gears confiscated by Ugandan police on Migingo Island.

Uganda wants the Kenyan Government to remove an assistant chief posted to the island last month.

The nine were arrested at about 5pm on Monday over claims that their boats had strayed to the Ugandan side of the island.

Speaking from the island, yesterday, Migingo Beach Management Unit Chairman Juma Ombori, said the arrests have paralysed fishing as fishermen now fear for their lives.

"One of the boats was actually picked deep into the Kenyan water," he said adding that the Ugandans just seemed to be taking advantage of the lack of commitment on the Kenyan side to protect its citizens.

He said the nine were immediately moved out of the island in a police boat under strong security and it was not yet clear where they were taken.

At the weekend Ugandan security officers banned Kenyans from fishing within the Ugandan waters until the new assistant chief posted to the island last month is removed.

Mr Augustine Echoti, the Ugandan police head on the island asked Kenyan fishermen to keep off Ugandan waters until the chief is removed.

And Uganda has sent a new marine patrol boat to the island and increased police officers.

The assistant chief, Julius Odhiambo was escorted to the island by the Nyatike DC Alan Machari and was immediately allocated an office.