Fisherman shot dead on Lake Kyoga

In the serene waters of Lake Kyoga, nestled within Amolatar District, lived a fisherman named Charles Wanya and his friend Junior Emma.

The two spent the early morning and evening hours casting nets and navigating the shimmering expanse, hoping to provide for their families. But on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, tragedy struck.

As Wanya and his friend Emma sailed their boat across the tranquil waters, they noticed a group of armed men adorned in military attire approaching.

The armed men confiscated the fishing net the two were using and the day’s catch before the shooting that left Wanya dead.

George Oumu, the LC1 chairperson for Kitwe Village, said he was at his residence when he received the report

“I received the report, and when I came here, we started asking for the whereabouts of the soldiers and the boat they were using. I was informed that the soldiers were using a boat marked 146-Bangala belonging to the Fisheries Protection Unit,”

The deceased had only spent four days at the landing site, according to local authorities.

The LC5 chairperson for Amolatar District, Geoffrey Ocen told Nilepost that Wanya’s body was found lying with a shattered wound on the forehead and was retrieved by fellow fishermen to the landing site.

Ocen called for speedy investigations into the shooting, accusing the forces of causing the death of more than 30 people on the lake.

“We are appealing to the government to institute a court martial at Kitwe to prosecute this soldier. We are also requesting the government to withdraw the UPDF from the lake because what they are doing is now killing people, not any other thing,” the district chairperson said.

Ocen says transferring the management of fishing activities would help ensure peaceful regulation of fishing activities on the lake.

“We don’t want any continuity of the barrack at Bangala because they are using it to come and kill our people. Allow the fishing communities to manage the fishing activities at the landing site. Those who have killed this person and many other people who lost their lives should be prosecuted and families compensated. I appeal for calm from the local communities,” says the LC5 chairperson, Ocen.

The North Kyoga regional Police Spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, in a statement released on Wednesday, confirmed the incident, saying the investigators have launched inquiries into the alleged case of murder by shooting.

“They came across the UPDF  Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) Army marine who was allegedly coming from Bangala and carrying out the normal operation, they tried to arrest the two,” said the police spokesperson.

However, Okema said the deceased, “Wanya Charles refused to lower down his oars but instead tried to hit the army officers three times, forcing the officers to release bullets which unfortunately hit him on the forehead,”

Police said no arrest has been made in connection to the neither, and neither exhibits were recovered.

“We are in touch with the leadership of FPU to know who shot the deceased. We call for calmness but advised those with illegal fishing gadgets to seek guidance from the Fisheries Protection Unit team to formalize their operations in the Lake,” says the police spokesperson, SP Okema

The late Wanya’s death now brings the total number of victims of crimes, including rape, torture, and murder allegedly committed by the UPDF fisheries protection unit to 46.

Last month, the district chairperson accompanied by the members of parliament from Lango presented before the police at Amolatar Central Police Station with a list of 45 victims.