Four Kenyan fishers have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Ugandan soldier, New Vision Online has learnt.
The development follows Ugandan security operatives, with the help of Marine Police and the community in Namayingo district, recovering the body of the soldier from Lake Victoria.
The 28-year-old Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier Private Luke Kaponyang (R/A.248760) was allegedly murdered by Kenyan fishermen.
Reports indicate that the soldier was attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) and was killed and his body dumped in Lake Victoria.
Namayingo deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Solomon Trevor Baleke, while speaking to New Vision Online on Saturday, May 25, 2024, said the body was recovered on Friday after a long search by the concerned people.
Baleke said the officer: Private Kaponyang, who was attached to the FPU of Lolwe marine detach in Lolwe sub-county in Namayingo, was allegedly killed while on duty.
According to him, it is alleged that four Kenyan fishers, whom the deceased and other three FPU officers intercepted at about 4:30pm on May 15, 2024, at Hama and Wayasi Islands in Namayingo, were carrying illegal fishing gear.
The armed FPU officers under the UPDF were under the command of Lt. Acwamu Aggrey, while on an operation in a marine boat.
“During the operation, the fishermen from Kenya disappeared with private Kaponyang in their boat,” he said.
Baleke explained that a search for the missing officer was mounted by security operatives, marine Police with the help of fishermen from Dolwe sub-county.
“Search for the missing officer was mounted since the officer went missing and on May 24, 2024, at about 5:00pm, a lifeless body of private Kaponyang was recovered by fishermen on Lake Victoria waters at Singila island, Dolwe,” he said.
He noted that the body was later handed over to the FPU and later informed the office of the RDC which heads the security committee in the district.
The body was taken to Bombo Military Barracks for postmortem and further management.
The arrest
According to Baleke, with the help of their counterparts in Kenya, the four suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Imbitta Police Station in Kenya.
A case of suspected murder by drowning was reported at Namayingo CPS vide GEF. 12/2024 for further investigations.