Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Information emerging from the tiny, but controversial Migingo fishing island on Lake Victoria, says there has been stand off between the Kenyan resident fishermen and members of the Ugandan Marine Police stationed on the island.

It all started on Saturday morning when the Kenyan shop-keepers, hotel owners and kiosks owners woke up in the morning and found campaign posters bearing President Museveni’s portraits pasted on their premises and doors during the night by the policemen.

The Kenyan could not hear of it and tore or defaced the poster. This provoked angry reaction by Ugandan policemen patrolling the island. Several Kenyan fishermen were arrested and locked up in a make shift police cell for the better part of Monday. They included the outspoken of Migingo Beach Management Unit Mr Juma Mbori.

The incident almost turned bloody when the Uganda marine policemen cocked their guns ready to shoot any trouble maker. Bu the situation calmed down later in the afternoon and those apprehended earlier were all released unconditionally.

But more trouble erupted again on Monday morning over the alleged plan by Ugandan policemen to impose new levy{taxes} on Kenyan fishermen operating on the island.

He new tax introduced b policemen on Monday this week caused a stand off between the Kenyan fishermen and Ugandan policemen who swung into action by arresting leaders of the Migingo Beach Management Unit who are vehemently opposed to the new levies.

The stand off and near riot forced the Ugandan police offices to fire in the air to disperse the rioting Kenyan fishermen as they were taking away the seized leaders into custody.

Earlier the Ugandan security men had arrested Kenyan fishermen and confiscated their catches, fishing gear and engine fuel.

The security men had on Monday morning stopped eight boats owned by Kenyan fishermen at gun-point before seizing their catches fish nets and fuel. The security men dumped in their security boat before retreating back to their camp on the Island.

As the news of the arrest spread on the island like bush fire, the Kenyan fishermen regrouped and visited the security camp demanding to know the reason why their colleagues had been arrested. The Ugandan security men reacted by threatening to beat them up.

The chairman of the Migingo Beach Management Unit Mr Juma Mbori on phone called said charged that the Ugandan security men had become notorious on extortion during the months of November and December.

He accused the Ugandan officers for having gone on the extortion rampage. They are on extortion spree to make quick money for end of the year festivities and January school fees. They are demanding Kshs 50,000 from every operational boat, three kilogram of fishes for every catches, saying the fees is for patrolling the lake.

The Monday incident came in the wake of an earlier incident last Saturday when scores of Kenyan fishermen were arrested from removing President Museveni’s posters from their premises leading to the arrest of several people.

The Ugandan security men the fishermen to ensure that Museveni posters are not removed or deface them. And although the Kenyan fishermen and traders were opposed to the presence of campaign material on their premises and on the Island in general, Ugandan security officers vowed to arrest anybody who removes the posters or defaces them.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com