Deadly catch: 20 live bombs pulled from Lake Victoria waters by fishermen

Some of the bombs that were recovered at the lake on March 2, 2026

There was excitement — then sheer panic — after fishermen in Mbita pulled out 20 live bombs from Lake Victoria in two separate incidents.

The fishermen initially thought they had made a massive catch. But their joy quickly turned to fear when they realised they had hooked boxes containing live explosives, according to police and witnesses.

The first incident occurred on March 1, 2026, at Litare Beach in the Mbita area. The group believed they had netted a huge fish, only to discover it was a box filled with live bombs and ammunition.

They abandoned the box at the lakeshore and alerted security officials, who later collected the explosives. Police described the devices as highly dangerous and urged residents to immediately report any such discoveries.

A day later, on March 2, another group of fishermen made a similar discovery at Koguna Beach, where 14 more bombs were found. The area is known for its rich fishing grounds.

Police said the explosives were propellant-type devices and also contained bullets. The recovered bombs were moved to Mbita Sub-County Police Headquarters and are awaiting disposal by the Bomb Disposal and Hazardous Materials Unit based in Kisumu.

Concerned fishermen said the number of explosives recovered from the lake in recent years is alarming. Similar discoveries were reported in 2021.

In 2019, explosives believed to date back to the colonial era were found concealed in old, rusty wooden boxes in the lake. Officials say such recoveries are not uncommon in the waters.

Authorities have not explained how the bombs ended up in the lake but have launched a sensitisation campaign to educate residents on how to identify explosives and understand the dangers they pose.

The bomb disposal unit typically destroys recovered explosives at a secure location. Officials continue to caution fishermen against handling suspicious objects and to report them immediately for their own safety.