KAMPALA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Security agencies in Uganda have arrested 26 Congolese fishermen suspected of being allies of a militia group that has captured six Ugandans, police said late on Wednesday.

Martin Okoth Ochola, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), told reporters that the arrested fishermen are suspected of having close ties to the Mai-Mai militia who kidnapped six Ugandan fishermen on Saturday.

Ochola said they were arrested while fishing on the Ugandan side of Lake Edward, which is located at the common border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Mai-Mai group are demanding 10 boxes of bullets in exchange for the release of the six Ugandan captives, the official said.

The kidnapped fishermen, whose whereabouts remain unknown, were abducted with their engine motor boat.

There have been abductions, fights and accusations between the two countries over the disputed border water believed to have huge oil deposits.

Authorities of both countries have in the past agreed to conduct joint operations by fishery and security officials to prevent clashes and disagreements over fishing in the disputed area, which both countries claim ownership.