Kampala — EIGHT Ugandan fishermen who were abducted by armed Congolese on the disputed Rukwanzi Island have been released.

The desk officer in charge of Rukwanzi at the ministry of foreign affairs, Drani Dradriga, said yesterday the fishermen were at the shores of Lake Albert on the Ugandan side.

They have been released to go home," Dradriga said on telephone. Asked whether any ransom was paid or the Government had to meet any conditions set by the abductors, Dradriga said, "No. no."

The fishermen, according to Bugoma-Nsonga beach management committee chairman, Barnabas Bamutura, were abducted on Friday at 6:00am. They were taken by the attackers to Kasenyi on the Congolese side of Lake Albert from where they (kidnappers) demanded a ransom.