Lake Victoria fishermen from Rhemba Island have complained that the Ugandan government is charging them hefty taxes on Kenyan waters. The fishermen told The Standard yesterday the government of Uganda had imposed a tax of Sh70,000 per fishing boat, which they have to pay in order to obtain a fishing licence in the Kenyan waters around the island.
Sh60,000 is paid for a single boat, while the other Sh10,000 covers three fishermen who operate it. Led by Rhemba Island Beach Management Unit Chairman Nicholas Ouma, the fishermen accused Uganda of being unfair by encroaching on Kenyan waters.
The fishermen said Uganda had deployed its police officers who carry out patrols around Rhemba Island to ensure Kenyan fishermen pay the taxes despite the fact that the island is in Kenya. “What is happening is not good because we fail to understand how Ugandan police come to Kenya and impose a tax on us. We have been fishing here for many years,” said Mr Ouma. Last Saturday, six Kenyan fishermen from Mbita were arrested.
Source: The Standard

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