Police intensify search operation in Lake Kyoga for bodies of drowned fishermen

Police divers, in collaboration with local fishermen, have intensified search efforts to recover the bodies of two fishermen, Yeko Kagoda (28) and Rodgers Magulu (30), who drowned in Lake Kyoga on Tuesday evening.

The incident occurred during a fishing trip in Nkondo sub-county, Buyende district, as a drizzle escalated into heavy storms, causing their boat to capsize and resulting in their immediate drowning.

Local fishermen made several attempts to rescue them but were forced to retreat due to the severe storms, which rendered their efforts impossible. Abbas Buyinza, a fisherman in the area, expressed concerns about the safety of fishermen, pointing out the continued use of illegal fishing gear despite efforts by the UPDF Marine officers from the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).

Buyinza complained about the insufficient presence of FPU personnel in Buyende district, which houses over 30 active landing sites, making effective supervision of fishing activities and enforcement of regulations challenging. He appealed to the UPDF leadership to increase their presence along Lake Kyoga to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Augustine Walujjo, another fisherman, suggested that the government should provide accessible credit facilities to enable fishermen to obtain legal fishing gear, as many struggle to afford them at current market prices. He drew a parallel to the Parish Development Model (PDM) program, which aims to support economically disadvantaged households across the country.

Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North police spokesperson stressed the importance of fishermen wearing life jackets as a safety precaution during fishing activities, particularly during stormy weather, to prevent accidents and minimize fatalities.