BUSIA, Kenya
Four Kenyan children are being held in Uganda’s Luzira Maximum Security Prison for engaging in illegal fishing on that country’s side of Lake Victoria.
The four include two secondary
school students, one of whom is a KCSE candidate, and two in Standard Eight.
The candidates risk missing
their national exams this year after Ugandan authorities slapped each with a
Ksh50,000 ($431) fine or a jail term of six months.
Efforts by their parents and
guardians to have them released have been futile.
“We are unable to raise the
fine. I tried to convince [prison authorities] to release the school-going
children when I visited the prison last week but they were adamant,” said Mr
Denis Sikhembo.
“They insisted that the law on
juveniles applies only in Kenya and maintained that they will have to pay the
fine like everyone else before being set free.”
He said the boys are living in
dreadful conditions and are forced to work on farms with little food and no
medication.
The children were among 60
Kenyan fishermen arrested by Ugandan security officers on several beaches in
Budalangi and Funyula on Lake Victoria in the last few months.
Family members say the four,
who were presented in a Kampala court, were found guilty of being in possession
of illegal fishing gear.
The Standard Eight candidates
at Busembe Primary School are Kennedy Ojaju and Bendon Ababu, while Stephen
Barasa (Form Four) and Benard Ouma (Form One) are students at Sisenye Mixed
Secondary School in Busia County.
Ms Lillian Ochieng urged the
government to intervene, raising concerns that her son, who was arrested on
April 9, is suffering while his fellow students are back in school.
“I am appealing to the
government to help me secure the release of my fourth-born, who is a Form One
student at Sisenye Secondary School so he can report back to school,” she stated.
Millicent Ojuku, the mother of
16-year-old Kennedy Ojaju, asked well-wishers to help.
“All I am requesting is for
someone to help me free my son. He needs to get back to school. Others are
already in school but mine is still confined within the walls of the Luzira
prisons,” she said.
However, Busia County
Commissioner Ahmed Omar said the government was aware of only two cases of
children detained in Uganda.
He said one of them was
released on Tuesday, May 3, after his parents paid a fine of Ksh30,000 ($258).
“We are only aware of two
cases of minors in Luzira Maximum Prison in Uganda. But there is nothing we can
do and they will have to pay the fine or serve the jail term of six months,” he
said.
The administrator faulted
Kenyan fishermen for defying established rules and regulations when fishing.
He said fishermen have been
warned about using illegal fishing gear but in vain.
“Our people are the problem.
We have sensitised them but they are not cooperating. Ugandans will not
entertain them when they fail to adhere to laid-down rules when fishing,” he
said.
“We have done what we can. Let
them do their part or they will live complaining of harassment from Ugandan
authorities.”
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