Fishermen operating on Lake Victoria have raised concern about their safety after one of them was arrested this week with a rudimentary replica firearm reportedly intended for use in a botched robbery mission.

When he was arrested by Police in Ssese islands, suspect Jackson Musasizi, 37, was also found with two knives and a machete (panga).

In a statement, Police said he had stayed on Bukasa island's Nakibanga landing site in Kyamuswa sub-county for only three weeks. 

His fishing partner was named as Benon Wekesa and the two used a boat belonging to Livingstone Nsubuga of Nakibanga landing site.

So what really happened?

Wekesa told New Vision about Musasizi's planned robbery mission.

At around 3pm on Wednesday this week, they set out for a routine fishing expedition on Lake Victoria.

“We started casting our nets at 7pm up to 8pm and after, Musasizi asked me if I have ever got sh1 million. I replied 'No'," narrated Wekesa.

Musasizi then reportedly gave him a hint about a deal that would potentially fetch them sh5 million in one night. 

However, he did not immediately elaborate on the plan.

“After that, Musasizi started assembling a toy gun with two knives and a panga and after removing the nets by 2am, he told me that we should start on the operation to rob fish from other fishermen using the panga and the toy gun,” said Wekesa.

According to Musasizi's reported plan, they would then sell the loot in the areas of Katosi, where Musasizi’s boss resides.

Their boat was to be abandoned in Bukunja.

In the elaborate robbery mission, Musasizi would operate the engine armed with the machete while Wekesa would wield the replica firearm to intimidate any targetted fisherman into handing over their catch.

Heavy winds on the lake that night reportedly forced Musasizi to abort the mission.

He is said to have planned to execute it two days later: Friday.

But Wekesa was an unwilling participant. He decided to inform his friends and boss about the ploy — a revelation that led to the arrest of Musasizi.

Police recovered the replica rifle, machete and knives from the boat upon Musasizi's arrest.

Nsubuga called Police from Kisaba Police Station, where the suspect was detained and a case was opened on file No. SD 07/24/05/2024. 

Musasizi's arrest raised concern among the fishing community about their safety while out on the lake.

Some claimed that robbers disguised as fishermen operating amongst them.

Robert Balemeezi, a fisherman, said that engine and fish robbery is on the rise in Kyamuswa sub-county, where he claimed they have lost at least five boat engines in the last six months. 

“These robbers pretend that they are looking for jobs and when you employ them, they start spying on who has a new engine and many fishing nets.

"After finding out, they [inform] their colleagues and attack fishermen while out casting nets, and take away their fuel and engines,” said Balemeezi. 

Some encounters have even been deadly, according to accounts.

Fishermen have appealed to the security operatives to investigate what they believe Musasizi belongs to. 

“We have lost many of our colleagues, where sometimes we find their bodies floating on the lake with cuts, indicating that their death resulted from attacks by robbers," said one fisherman who preferred anonymity.