Lake Victoria Fishermen Report Surge in Pirate Attacks

ishermen in Lake Victoria Raise Alarm Over Rising Piracy

Saturday, March 1, 2025

 Incidents of piracy on Lake Victoria have sharply increased, endangering the safety of fishermen and their livelihoods. The regional government of Mara has directed the Rorya District Security Committee to conduct an urgent assessment after local fishermen complained of being regularly attacked and robbed while on the lake by individuals from neighboring countries.

Lake Victoria is shared by three countries: Tanzania, which holds 51% of its territory, Uganda at 43%, and Kenya with a 6% share.

On February 7, this year, Stephen Wasira, Vice Chairman of CCM in mainland Tanzania, advised fishermen to remain cautious and avoid crossing borders to avoid unnecessary conflicts. His warning came after reports that, over the past three months, more than 12 fishermen were attacked and had their fish and fishing equipment stolen.

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Wasira's statement followed reports that over the past three months, over 12 fishermen had been attacked and robbed of their fish and fishing gear.

On February 28, 2025, the Mara Regional Commissioner, Evans Mtambi, visited the village of Komuge in the Rorya district, where he heard complaints from fishermen, many of whom said the frequency of these attacks has worsened.

Rising Attacks Threaten Livelihoods

The fishermen expressed that the frequency of the raids has grown alarmingly, with reports of daily assaults. Some even alleged that the security officers on patrol were collaborating with pirates from neighboring countries that share Lake Victoria’s borders.

Fisherman Charles Shishi stated that the situation had become unbearable, with attacks occurring every day. He emphasized the involvement of criminals with boats registered in their home countries, while others used unregistered boats. He called on the government to take swift action to address this growing problem.

“It’s happening every day now. We are being attacked by pirates from neighboring countries, some with boats registered in their own countries, while others use unregistered boats. We need the government’s help because this situation is severely affecting us,” Shishi said.

Shishi recounted his own harrowing experience where he was robbed of his fish and fuel for his fishing machine by pirates. He was eventually rescued by fellow fishermen after spending several hours stranded on the lake.

Magesa Ezekiel also shared a recent incident where a young man was shot in the leg after attempting to stop pirates from taking their fish. After injuring the youth, the pirates fled with the stolen goods.

The fishermen stated that these raids not only jeopardize their safety but also hinder their ability to earn a living, setting back their progress.

Government Response

After hearing the fishermen's grievances, Mtambi ordered the Rorya District Security Committee to carry out a prompt assessment of the situation and devise strategies to combat the issue.

“We are treating this issue with the utmost seriousness, given its significance, and I urge the District Commissioner (DC) and the committee to assess the situation thoroughly and gauge what resources are available. We are also grateful to the government for providing additional fuel for patrols,” said Mtambi.

He also instructed the DC of Rorya to hold discussions with district heads from neighboring countries to address the issue, stressing that citizen safety is of paramount importance.

Furthermore, Mtambi addressed the allegations that some Tanzanian fishermen and security officers were allegedly collaborating with the pirates from neighboring nations, promising swift action to investigate and take appropriate measures.

“This is a sensitive issue as it concerns the safety of our people and their property. Initially, it was claimed that Tanzanian fishermen were crossing borders to fish in foreign waters, but these claims now seem unfounded. We must take rapid action,” Mtambi added.

Rorya District Commissioner, Halfan Haule, acknowledged the challenge and confirmed that they have already initiated efforts to tackle the problem. He revealed that patrols have been increased to twice a week, thanks to additional fuel provided by the government for patrol boats.

“We are grateful for the additional fuel provided by the government, which has enabled us to conduct patrols twice a week,” Haule said.