The territorial police in Amolatar District, North Kyoga region, are investigating an incident of murder by shooting of one Wanya Charles, aged 38, a Musoga by tribe, a fisherman, and a resident of Kitwe village.
According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the police PRO North Kyoga Region, this incident took place on April 30, 2024, at about 12:00 hours on Lake Kyoga near Kitwe landing site, Kitwe village, Namijja parish, Agwingiri Sub-County, Amolatar District. The report was registered by one Eumu George, aged 63, a Kumam by tribe, the Chairperson of Kitwe landing site.
It is alleged that on April 30, 2024, Junior Emma and Wanya Charles went fishing on Lake Kyoga from Kitwe landing site with illegal fishing gear and a boat. They later came across Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) Army marines who were allegedly coming from Bangala and carrying out a normal operation. They attempted to arrest the two. However, Wanya Charles refused to comply and instead tried to hit the army officers three times, prompting the officers to fire bullets which unfortunately hit Wanya on the forehead.
The fishermen later brought the deceased’s body and the illegal boat from the water to the landing site. Immediately, the District CID and the team responded to the landing site, confirmed the body and the illegal fishing boat. The scene was documented, statements were recorded from a few witnesses, and community members were interviewed and asked to provide more information regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s body has been conveyed to Amolator Health Center IV for postmortem examination. Okema stated that no exhibits have been recovered yet by the time of compiling this report. No arrests have been made yet, but according to SP Okema, they are in touch with the leadership of FPU to identify who shot the deceased.
Police have called for calmness but advised those with illegal fishing gear to seek guidance from the Fisheries Protection Unit team to formalize their operations on the lake.
