Police constable killed in clashes with Lake Kyoga fishermen
The incident occurred on Monday night when police officers reportedly attempted to recover confiscated fishing nets from fishermen at the landing site.
Kyoga South Police spokesman Stephen Mukombe speaking to New Vision. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)
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A police constable has been killed and the officer in charge of Lagara Police Post critically injured following violent clashes with fishermen at Odaamu landing site on Lake Kyoga in Anyangan Kateta subcounty, Serere district.
The incident occurred on Monday night when police officers reportedly attempted to recover confiscated fishing nets from fishermen at the landing site.
The LC3 chairperson of Kateta sub-county, Amos Ochola, confirmed the incident on Tuesday (February 3), identifying the deceased officer as Constable Charles Otirian.
According to Ochola, the officer in charge of Lagara Police Post, identified only as Ocan, led a team of four police constables 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,” Ochola said.
He added that as tensions escalated, OC Ocan 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,” Ochola explained.
During the chaos, Constable Otirian was killed on the spot, while OC Ocan sustained serious injuries.
OC Ocan was rushed to Serere Health Centre IV, where he is currently admitted in critical condition. The body of the deceased constable has been taken to the mortuary at the same facility.
It is not yet established why the police officers went to recover the confiscated fishing nets in the evening without the political head of the sub-county.
Several other people were also injured during the confrontation and are receiving treatment at Serere Health Centre IV.
When contacted, Kyoga South regional police spokesperson Stephen Mukombe said his office had not yet received an official report on the incident by press time.
Police investigations are expected to commence as authorities work to establish the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.