A fisherman has died in the lake Albert waters after he allegedly jumped into the lake fearing to be arrested by Fisheries protection Unit-FPU personnel.
The deceased has been identified as 20 year old Milton Gubaza, a fisherman attached to Runga landing site in Kibiro parish Kiganja sub county in Hoima district. The incident happened on Thursday evening.
It is alleged that the deceased while on a fishing expedition on the lake Albert waters, met the fisheries protection unit-FPU operatives who were patrolling the lake.
He panicked and jumped into the lake and died instantly, fearing to be arrested since he had illegal fishing gear including undersized fishing nets, hooks and a boat that are not recommended to be used on the lake.
One of the area residents identified as Oromo Luzira says the FPU operatives should regulate the way they carry out their operation, arguing that they are too harsh to the fishermen.
He adds that there is need to have peaceful engagement between the operatives and the fishermen for sanity to be restored since most fishermen fear them due to too much torture and brutal arrests.
Major Richard Mafabi the sector commander who is overseeing the FPU operations on Lake Albert says they have launched investigations into the matter but cautioned fishermen not to fear the FPU operatives while on the lake but rather cooperate with them.
