Families grieve as two Kaberamaido fishermen drown in L. Kyoga

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A cloud of grief settled over Awimon village, Swagere parish, Ochero sub-county in Kaberamaido district, as the bodies of two fishermen, lost to the waters of Lake Kyoga on March 30, 2025, were retrieved and buried.

The deceased, David Acar, 27, and Solomon Okello, 22, reportedly drowned while fleeing from operatives from state agencies enforcing a crackdown on illegal fishing.

Willy Otima, the LC1 chairperson of Awimon village and father of the late Okello, said the incident had left the entire village in mourning.

According to Otima, the two fishermen were attempting to escape when their canoe capsized, sending them into the lake. Their bodies were not immediately recovered. The first body was retrieved on Saturday evening, while the second was found on Sunday.

The burial took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, with prayers held in Awimon village.

Call for safer lake operations

Kaberamaido district female councillor, Joy Akelloi, expressed disappointment with how government operations in the lakes were being handled.

“The government should find ways of conducting operations that do not lead to loss of life,” Akelloi said.

She alleged that the approach taken by the Fisheries Protection Unit and Marine Police had resulted in several fatalities among fishermen.

Akelloi also highlighted the economic struggles of many young men who rely on the lake for survival.

“Okello has died, leaving behind a three-month-old baby. He had just brought his wife home less than a year ago. Who will now take care of this young family?” she asked.

She urged the government to support affected families and ensure that enforcement operations are conducted with empathy.

Additionally, Akelloi revealed that four other fishermen who were in the lake on the same day had not been accounted for, raising concerns that they may have been arrested. Police were yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Preaching at the burial, Rev. Daniel Okello reminded mourners that human life is in God’s hands and urged fishermen to place their trust in Him.

Meanwhile, Richard Ebong, the guardian of the late David Acar, said he had lost a vital family member and key breadwinner.

Ochero sub-county LC3 chairperson, Charles Ojuku, advised fishermen to prioritise safety by wearing life jackets.

“It is difficult to safeguard a life while on the lake, so it is important that every fisherman secures a life jacket. We could have saved these two fishermen if they had been wearing life jackets,” Ojuku said.

Calls for compliance

Local resident Moses Darius Okello urged fishermen to prioritise their safety while at work.

“I have heard of cases where fishermen jump into the water when approached by the Fisheries Protection Unit or Marine Police, but that is not the best way to handle the situation,” he said.

He added that the two fishermen who drowned were using a small, leaking canoe. In their rush to escape, they were unable to scoop out the water, causing the vessel to capsize.

“The two could be alive today if they had peacefully surrendered to the authorities,” Okello noted.

Calvin Atocon from Ochero sub-county pointed out that ongoing conflicts between the fishing community and existing regulations had made life difficult for many. He called on the government to take a fair approach to enforcement.

Meanwhile, Kaberamaido NRM chairperson, Ali Hassan Emetu, urged locals not to politicise the issue.

“Let us not use the deaths of these fishermen to discredit the NRM government, which has good plans for the fishing community. The regulations in place are meant to protect fishermen and ensure they benefit from the lake’s resources,” Emetu said.

Local resident Julius Ongole suggested that the government establish a special fund to provide fishermen with affordable loans to purchase legal fishing gear.

“Most of our people cannot afford the recommended fishing gear because they are poor. The government should offer soft loans so that fishermen can improve their livelihoods,” Ongole said.

He added that this was not the first incident of its kind, as more than five fishermen had drowned in recent months.