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Security operatives with the help of marine police and the community of Namayingo district have recovered the body of Uganda People’s Defence officer (UPDF)  alleged to have been murdered by Kenyan fishermen.

R/A.248760 Private Luke Kaponyang a 28-year-old attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) was allegedly killed and his body drowned in Lake Victoria.

Solomon Trevor Baleke the deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Namayingo while speaking to New Vision online on Saturday said the body was recovered on Friday.

Baleke said the officer Private Kaponyang who was attached to the FPU of Lolwe marine detach in Lolwe sub-county in Namayingo district was killed on duty.

Suspects include our Kenyan fishermen whom the deceased and three other FPU officers intercepted at around 4:30 pm on May 15/2024 at Hama and Wayasi Islands in Namayingo district were carrying illegal fishing gear.

The UPDF-armed FPU officers were under the command of Lt. Acwamu Aggrey while on an operation in a marine boat.

“During the operation, the fishermen from the neighboring Kenya disappeared with private Kaponyang in their boat,” said Baleke

He explained that a search for the missing officer was mounted by security operatives and marine police with the help of fishermen from the Dolwe sub-county.

“Search for the missing officer was mounted since the officer went missing and on May 24, 2024, at about 5:00 pm, a lifeless body of private Kaponyang was recovered by fishermen on Lake Victoria waters at Singila island  Dolwe sub county Namayingo District,” he said.

Baleke added that the body was taken to Bombo military barracks for postmortem.

He noted that 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.