KISUMU, Kenya — Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has urged Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to address claims of harassment affecting Kenyan fishermen operating on Lake Victoria.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, Oburu called for stronger cooperation between Kenya and Uganda in managing the shared waters to allow fishermen from both countries to operate freely.
“I appeal to you, please make Lake Victoria a common user facility so that you can manage the security of the lake jointly. We don’t want harassment from our side and from your side,” he said.
The senator’s remarks come amid renewed complaints from Kenyan fishermen working near Migingo Island, a small rocky outcrop that has long been at the centre of tensions between Kenya and Uganda.
Oburu appealed to both Museveni and William Ruto to intervene and restore cooperative management of the lake under historical arrangements that allowed fishermen from both sides to operate without conflict.
“President Museveni, I plead with you and President Ruto, please make this a common user facility, as it used to be when our forefathers were managing it without any conflict in the lake at all,” he said.
Local fishermen say the situation on the ground remains difficult. Hesbon Ouko, chairperson of the Sori Beach Management Unit, alleged that Kenyan boats are required to pay Sh2,000 to access fishing grounds near Migingo Island.
According to Ouko, vessels that fail to pay the fee risk being impounded by Ugandan security officers during patrols.
“We are still unable to freely conduct our fishing activities due to frequent patrols and intimidation,” he said, adding that complaints to authorities have so far produced limited results.
He also suggested that some Kenyan security personnel could be indirectly involved in the situation, complicating efforts to protect fishermen.
“We have reported the matter to the police and remain hopeful that action will be taken,” Ouko added.
The dispute surrounding Migingo Island and nearby fishing zones has persisted for years, driven by unclear maritime boundaries and intense competition over the lake’s rich fish stocks.
Although Kenya and Uganda have repeatedly pledged to work together to resolve the issue and manage the shared resource, fishermen say enforcement on the ground remains inconsistent, exposing them to arrests, fines, and loss of fishing equipment.
The conflict has particularly affected fishing communities in Siaya and Busia counties, where many fishermen depend on Lake Victoria for their livelihoods.
