Lake Kyoga attack death toll rises to two as police officer succumbs to injuries

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The Police in Kyoga South in eastern Uganda have confirmed that the officer-in-charge of Lagara Police Post in Serere district has succumbed to injuries he sustained during a Monday night violent confrontation with fishermen at a Lake Kyoga landing site.

Sgt Robert Ocana's death on Wednesday, which happened at Soroti Referral Hospital, was confirmed by Stephen Mukombe, the Kyoga South police spokesperson.



He added that 10 suspects, including a village chairperson, have since been arrested in connection with the deadly altercation.

Another policeman, Police Constable Charles Otirian, was reportedly killed on the spot during the violent clashes with fishermen at Odaamu landing site in Anyangan, Kateta sub-county, Serere.

"The LC1 chairman of Nananga A, Richard Emesu and the PISO [parish internal security officer] of Kanyangan parish, Kasim Okiror, are among the ten arrested in connection with the murder of two police officers on duty," said Mukombe.

Meanwhile, two other police officers, who were also deployed on the fateful night, are fighting for their lives at Soroti Referral Hospital.

What caused the clashes?

According to Amos Ochola, the LC3 chairperson of Kateta sub-county, officer-in-charge Ocan led a team of four police officers to the landing site with the intention of repossessing fishing gear that had earlier been confiscated from the fishermen.

However, the fishermen reportedly resisted the move, insisting that fisheries officers from both the sub-county and the district be present before any action was taken.

“The fishermen became rowdy after their demand was ignored,” said Ochola, adding that tensions then escalated.

Ocan reportedly fired live bullets into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The warning shots, however, failed to calm the situation.

“When the officer ran out of ammunition, the crowd descended on him and the other officers,” said Ochola.

The locals also torched the two Police motorcycles that the police officers had used.