Kenyan security officials arrested a Ugandan coxswain behind the fatal shooting of a Kenyan fisherman at Lake Victoria’s Sumba Island on the night of July 4.
The suspect, Mugoya Mohammed 22, was arrested and upon interrogation, it was established that he was working as a coxswain with Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Maninga Military Camp in Sigulu Island, Uganda.
The Kenya Coast Guard Services (KCGS) officers on normal patrol received information that there was a suspicious person at Sumba Island who was being beaten up by the public.
It was further established that he was one of the two UPDF officers alleged to have been involved in the shooting incident.
The officers managed to rescue him from irate members of the public.
He was then escorted to Port Victoria police station.
Investigations revealed that on July 4 around 5.30 pm Lawrence Anema Ababa 21 and a Ugandan Igoma Dalaus Rukungu 22 cast off Marenga Beach within Bunyala sub-county on a motorized fishing boat for a fishing expedition within Sumba Island waters.
On board were three other fishermen Fred Majoni Pamba, Paul Owinyu 27, and another Ugandan only known as Roman.
At around 7 pm, they were intercepted by the UPDF patrol team of two officers aboard a 40HP motorized boat.
One of the officers shot dead Fred Majoni whose body was later removed to Port Victoria Hospital mortuary.
The whereabouts of Roman, the Ugandan, were not immediately established.
The suspect was arrested and was on Thursday charged with murder.
There has been tension in the area of overfishing disputes.
On Wednesday, July 5 security teams from Kenya and Uganda met to resolve the impasse over fishing rights in Lake Victoria after local fishermen complained of harassment and intimidation from authorities in neighbouring countries.
The two teams met in Busia to work jointly with a view to resolving the stalemate.
Speaking to the press after the meeting at the Uganda One Stop Border Post, Busia Uganda Resident District Commissioner Michael Kubwika said the two countries have a duty to respect and promote peace and security along the border.
He added another shooting on Lake Victoria was also under investigation.
“The Ugandan authorities have already arrested the Sergeant who carried out the shooting and the other who commanded the action,” he said.
He added they will be held in police custody until the investigations are complete.
