Rwanda National Police

Karongi district Mayor, Bernard Kayumba has appealed to fishermen operating in Lake Kivu to take safety precautions and work with security organs to ensure security in the lake.

Kayumba made the call on December 8 in in Bwishyura sector where he met over 150 fishermen from the sectors of Rubengera, Bwishyura, Mubuga and Gishyita, operating in Lake Kivu.

He urged them to be security sensitive to prevent accidents that previously claimed lives of their colleagues, acquire and keep life saving equipment in their boats

He also warned them against malpractices like using substandard or banned fishing nets, facilitating smuggling and drug trafficking.

Some fishermen are said to be using mosquito nets during fishing which catches juvenile fish.

“Illegal fishing nets which include mosquito nets are a threat to fish species because it can haunt the fishing industry," said Kayumba.

Assistant Inspector of Police, Bosco Mugwaneza from RNP Marin Unit, asked participants to always make it a point to avail life jackets to passengers while moving in waters.

Mugwaneza who blamed water accidents to overloading of boats, called upon participants to shun the malpractice and importantly carry relatively few loads as one of the preventive measures.

“Out of selfish interests, some fishers and transporters ignorantly overload their boats little knowing that their lives as well as passengers are in danger," noted Mugwaneza, calling participant to make efforts in tightening security along water bodies.  

Celestin Simparinka one of the participants commended RNP’s efforts in ensuring security on the lake, and vowed to be part of the campaign to prevent water accidents.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding between Rwanda National Police and the Lottery Club of Rwanda, the latter, in April this year donated 100 pieces of life jackets to fishermen operating in Lake Kivu.

The MoU focuses on ensuring security and safety of businesses conducted in water bodies.