KAMPALA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nine Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) militiamen have been arrested by Ugandan security forces on Lake Albert which is shared by the two countries.
Shuaib Toko, Resident District Commissioner for Pakwach told Xinhua by telephone on Monday that the militiamen who were arrested on Saturday were found with guns and army uniforms.
"The militias have been harassing our fishermen on Lake Albert for long. They claim the lake belongs to them, which is not the case," Toko said.
He added that the militia confiscate boat engines and fishing nets from the Ugandan fishermen and later ask for ransom of about 200 U.S. dollars per person.
"What they have been doing is really dangerous. They take the engines and leave the occupants of the boats at the mercy of the wind. As we speak one boat has disappeared and we don't know yet where it was blown by the wind," Toko said.
He said so far four boat engines and a number of nets belonging to Ugandans were recovered from the militiamen who come from the Congolese territory of Mahagi.
Josephine Angucia, West Nile regional police spokesperson told Xinhua by telephone that this was not the first time the militia were attacking Ugandans.
"They have been robbing our people and even killing them. We want their case file taken to court and charged with theft and other related crimes," she said.
She noted that they were set to hold discussions with Congolese authorities over security concerns on the lake.
