Job Namanya | Tayari News
KABALE, – Boat operators on Lake Bunyonyi have accused marine police officers of extorting money from them during routine transport operations, a practice they say is frustrating their work and increasing the cost of water transport on one of Uganda’s busiest inland lakes.
The operators, who transport passengers, agricultural produce and merchandise across the lake’s 29 islands, allege that police officers stationed on the lake frequently stop their boats and demand unofficial payments ranging from Shs2,000 to Shs25,000 without issuing receipts.
The accusations emerged during interviews with several operators at landing sites around the lake, where many expressed fear and frustration over what they described as continued harassment by some security personnel.
According to the operators, the alleged extortion has persisted for months and is negatively affecting their earnings at a time when fuel prices and operational costs remain high.
Philip Byarugaba, a veteran boat operator on the lake, said the officers often stop them regardless of the number of passengers on board or the amount of money they have earned during the day.
“We work under difficult conditions on the lake, but what hurts us most is being forced to give out money every time we are stopped. Sometimes you have only a few passengers, but the police still demand money before allowing you to continue,” Byarugaba said.
Byarugaba added that many operators fear speaking openly about the issue because they worry they could be targeted or denied permission to operate.
“We respect the work of security agencies because safety on the lake is important, but the officers should not take advantage of us,” he said.
Another operator, George Tukwasiibwe, said the situation has created anxiety among boat crews, many of whom now start their journeys uncertain about how much money they may lose along the way.
“Some days you make very little profit after buying fuel and maintaining the boat. When officers demand money from you several times a day, it becomes difficult to survive,” Tukwasiibwe explained.
He noted that some operators have been forced to increase transport charges in order to recover the money they allegedly lose through the unofficial payments.
“That burden eventually affects passengers because transport costs become higher,” he added.
Communities living on the islands of Lake Bunyonyi depend heavily on boats for transportation to schools, markets, health centres and trading centres. The lake, which stretches across parts of Kabale District and Rubanda District, serves as a major economic and tourism hub in southwestern Uganda.
Another operator, Simpson Munyambabazi, alleged that some boat operators are forced into negotiations with police officers before they are allowed to proceed with their work.
“At times you find yourself bargaining with officers so that they can let you continue with your journey. If you refuse to cooperate, they can delay you for a long time and this affects our business,” Munyambabazi claimed.
He said the situation is discouraging many young people who had invested in water transport as a source of income.
“We are not refusing to follow safety guidelines or government regulations. What we want is fairness and professionalism from the officers working on the lake,” he said.
The operators say the marine police were initially welcomed by residents because of their role in improving safety following several drowning incidents that had previously occurred on the lake.
Over the years, authorities have enforced measures such as mandatory life jackets, boat registration and monitoring of overloaded vessels in an effort to reduce accidents on the water.
However, some operators now fear that allegations of corruption could damage trust between the community and security agencies.
Noah Mubangizi, the chairperson of boat operators on Lake Bunyonyi, called on government authorities to urgently intervene and investigate the allegations.
“Our members are suffering because of these continuous demands for money. Many operators are struggling to provide for their families, yet they are still forced to part with money that is not receipted for,” Mubangizi said.
He warned that continued extortion could discourage investment in water transport and negatively affect tourism activities around the lake.
“Lake Bunyonyi is an important tourism destination and transportation here should be managed in a transparent manner. We need the responsible authorities to step in and protect operators from exploitation,” Mubangizi added.
Efforts to obtain a comment from marine police authorities about the allegations were unsuccessful by press time.
However, Nelson Atwongyeire, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Kabale, acknowledged receiving complaints from some operators and promised that the matter would be investigated.
“We have heard concerns from some boat operators regarding the conduct of certain officers on the lake. The issue will be followed up with the relevant security authorities so that the truth can be established and appropriate action taken,” Atwongyeire said.
He emphasized the importance of professionalism among security personnel while also urging boat operators to continue observing safety regulations.
“Security on the lake is very important because we want to protect lives, but all officers are expected to work within the law,” he added.
Lake Bunyonyi, widely known for its scenic islands and terraced hills, is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist attractions and is often described as Africa’s second deepest lake.
Apart from tourism, the lake supports fishing, transportation and small-scale trade, making it a critical economic resource for surrounding communities.