By Leilah Bbaale
Two Congolese soldiers have been arrested on Lake Albert.
The soldiers were arrested on Friday as they robbed Ugandan fishermen of their fishing boats, Nets and boat Engines near Bugoigo landing site in Buliisa district and Dei in Pakwach district respectively. Two Submachine guns were recovered from the soldiers. Each gun had 30 rounds of ammunition.
The soldiers have been identified as Mouli Mweni 29 and Patrick Njangu Bukamba both attached to Mahagi Port Bunia district in the Eastern Democratic of Congo.
According to reports, the armed Congolese soldiers carried an impromptu raid on the fishermen at around 9 pm accusing them of encroaching on the Congolese side. They arrested the fishermen and took away their gears to Congo.
Toko Swaib the RDC Pakwach said that out of the 13 boats of the Ugandan Fishermen that the Congolese authorities impounded, occupants of the two that were behind managed to overpower the Congolese soldiers and arrested them. Toko explained that the fishermen later sailed to Bullisa with the Congolese soldiers who they had overpowered and handed them over to the Ugandan authorities.
According to Toko, arrangements are being made to transfer the two Congolese soldiers with to Pakwach where the matter will be handled with the Congolese authorities at Dei.
Reports from Intelligence sources indicate that the Congolese soldiers took the Uganda security personnel at Dei and Panyimur by surprise as they abducted the 33 Ugandan fishermen.
Attacks on Ugandan fishermen by suspected Congolese Militiamen have been rampant since February 2018.
Dozens of Ugandan fishermen have lost their fishing gear including boats, fishing nets, boat engines, hooks and money to the militiamen in the past two years.
