Four Kenyan fishermen have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of a Ugandan soldier in Namayingo district. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, Private Luke Kaponyang, was found dead in Lake Victoria. He was 28 years old and his body was recovered by Ugandan security operatives, with the help of the Marine Police and local community members.
Private Luke Kaponyang, who was assigned to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), was reportedly murdered by the Kenyan fishermen. The Namayingo Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Solomon Trevor Baleke, shared that Kaponyang’s body was found on Friday, May 24, 2024, after an extensive search.
Kaponyang was attached to the FPU at the Lolwe marine detachment in Lolwe sub-county, Namayingo. He was allegedly killed while on duty. The incident occurred on May 15, 2024, when Kaponyang and three other FPU officers intercepted four Kenyan fishermen at Hama and Wayasi Islands in Namayingo. The fishermen were reportedly carrying illegal fishing gear.
The operation, led by Lt. Acwamu Aggrey, involved the armed FPU officers using a marine boat. During the operation, the Kenyan fishermen reportedly took Kaponyang in their boat and disappeared.
Baleke explained that after Kaponyang went missing, a search was launched by security operatives, Marine Police, and fishermen from Dolwe sub-county. On May 24, 2024, around 5:00 pm, the body of Private Kaponyang was found by fishermen in Lake Victoria near Singila Island, Dolwe. The body was then handed over to the FPU, and the RDC’s office was notified. The body was taken to Bombo Military Barracks for a postmortem examination and further management.
With the help of Kenyan authorities, the four suspects were arrested and are currently held at Imbitta Police Station in Kenya. A case of suspected murder by drowning has been reported at Namayingo Central Police Station under case number GEF. 12/2024, and investigations are ongoing.
