Uganda releases 14 Congolese arrested over L. Edward tresspass

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Whereas they own the lion's share of the waters of Lake Edward with a coverage of 75%, Congolese fishermen have repeatedly encroached on Uganda's only 25% of the lake shared by the two nations.

Security and the local community have reported several cases of intruders using illegal fishing gear including small-sized nets, boats moreover in the breeding zones.

This has seen the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) arrest them on several of them. Often, the intruders have pledged that they will stop the vice and promote a peaceful relationship between Uganda and DR.Congo.

Lt. Lauben Ndifula, the spokesperson Fisheries Protection Unit lists several challenges including the variation in the implementation of some laws governing fisheries where Uganda is very strict at illegal fishing activities which the Congolese have a casual approach.

"They have failed to eradicate the use of banned equipment. They continue to use illegal fishing gear," he said on Friday.

Ndifuna was part of the team that witnessed the release of 14 Congolese their 67 boat engines at a formal event presided over by Lt. Joe Walusimbi the Residents District Commissioner (RDC) Kasese  District in Katwe Kabatooro town council, Kasese District.

Walusimbi said that the formal handover was meant to engage the DRC authorities to discuss lasting solutions to the vice.  

Robina Mirembe, who represented the Rubirizi RDC, a district that is also largely affected by the influx of Congolese on the same waters of Lake Edward said that the country continues to lose revenue in the long run when illegal activities continue to be practiced.

Lt.Col. Jean Tsongo, the fisheries officer DR. Congo commended the leadership of the two nations for a good bilateral relationship that has existed between them ranging from social, economic, and political spheres. 

Uganda has had various close ties with DR.Congo with the most recent one being Operation Shujaa, a joint force of the two nations with a primary target of ruining the ADF elements out of the two countries.