Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will address the Ugandan parliament to discuss the issue of Lake Victoria including the constant harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan security personnel.
Speaking during the annual Bunyala Cultural Festivals at Marenga Beach in neighboring Kenya on Christmas eve, Bukooli Islands County Member of Parliament in Uganda Abott George said they have advised the President to halt the lake operations until further notice.
“I am between a rock and a hard surface because immediately Kenyans see me, they say that Ugandans harass their fishermen on Lake Victoria,” he said.
The MP said President Museveni’s move to guard the lake is not bad since it’s geared towards protecting fish species for “our children and great grandchildren.”.
He said that those who go against the President’s noble idea are like children who are sent to look for firewood and they step on people’s cassava.
Abott told former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was present to intervene and solve the problem.
He said failure by the people of the border to come together and solve the lake issue, it might take Kenya and Ugandan Presidents time to reach an amicable solution.
“Hon Raila you have special attachment to the people of the Island which you once used. During the tumultuous Iddi Amin reign our parents used the same Island and settled in Homabay and Uyoma,” he said, adding that Kenya was and still a good place.
He expressed optimism that other issues regarding the Lake can be solved by the two heads of state.
Raila and other leaders including Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi and a host of Kenyan Members of parliament called for an end to constant harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan security personnel.