By; Our Reporter

Human rights abuses against the fishing community of Ssaka Crater Lake have shocked the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire Land Commission.

The Commission kicked off its public hearings on land matters in Tooro region at Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal this morning.

During the hearing, Jackson Magezi, the chairperson LC 1 of Bwanika Village in Kichwamba Sub County told the Commissioners that following the memorandum of understanding that was signed between Ferdsult Engineering Company and Kabarole District local government, several fishermen have been assaulted by police and guards attached to Ferdsult.

The memorandum was signed in 2015 to restock the Crater Lake with fish. However, Fort Portal High Court annulled the deal last year on grounds that the community was never consulted.

Justice Anthony Ojok Ayuko also ruled that Ferdsult failed to secure approval of the project from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Magezi told the commissioners that despite the court judgment, security personnel attached to Ferdsult have continued to stop fishermen from accessing the lake to fish and collect water leading to shooting and its alleged some were killing while others are nursing serious injuries.


Tuesday 20th February 2018 06:32:13 AM