Unknown armed gangs invaded fishing communities of Buvuma Islands on Saturday night robbing fishermen of 7 Boat Engines and leaving them stranded on waters of Lake Victoria.
The incident happened between Bwema and Bugaya Sub County in Buziri when armed pirates waylaid fishermen, stealing boat engines and other property. A one Mafuta Moses lost 3 boat engines in the attack.
The Island District security boss, Deputy RDC Jumah Kigongo, confirmed the attack.
Mr Kigomgo called for heightened deployment of security operatives on lakes and alertness of locals to curb the vice. He attributed the resurgence of cases piracy to laxity in agencies charged with security on waters.
Mr Kigongo has further revealed to us that combined security forces have embarked on the search for the stolen items and arrest of perpetrators to ensure protection of Buvuma island residents as well as fishermen on waters.
Piracy was rife on Lake Victoria before 2016 when UPDF and Uganda Police intensified operations on lakes as well as bilateral engagements with Kenya on joint operations came into force.
He noted that the main challenge is the limited number of forces on lakes especially Marine Unit personnel and inadequate resources including fuel to facilitate overnight patrol operations across the Island communities of Lake Victoria.