Oburu urges Ruto, Museveni to end harassment of fishermen at Lake Victoria

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has called for the immediate resolution of the conflict on Lake Victoria that has seen scores of Kenyan fishermen arrested by Ugandan security officials.

Speaking in Kisumu, Oburu decried the frequent harassment of fishermen, who are detained and forced to part with various amounts in fines.

The long-running conflict has affected fishermen mostly from Siaya and Busia counties for years, who have suffered losses either in paying fines, forfeiting fishing gear, or detention over allegations of fishing in Ugandan waters.

“President Yoweri Museveni, I appeal to you, please make this lake of ours, Lake Victoria, a common user facility so that you can manage the security of the lake jointly with us. We don't want harassment from our side and from your side. President Museveni, I plead with you and President William Ruto, please make this a common user facility, as it used to be when our forefathers were managing it without any conflict in the lake at all," said Oburu.