Serere, Uganda | A police officer has been killed and several others injured following a violent confrontation between security personnel and residents in Kateta Sub County, Serere District.
The deceased, identified as Constable Otirian Charles, a resident of Oburin Parish, Kateta Sub County, was attached to Olagara Police Station. He had recently joined the Uganda Police Force and was deployed as part of election security operations.
Authorities report that the incident occurred on Monday night in Nananga Parish during an operation to recover impounded illegal fishing gear.
LCIII Chairperson of Kateta Sub County, Amos Ochola, told press that the conflict traces back to early last year, when fishermen at Nananga landing site agreed to suspend the use of illegal fishing gear to protect Lake Kyoga and preserve fish stocks.
“Fishermen from neighboring Nakabale and Pingire landing sites allegedly defied this agreement, crossing into Nananga waters with illegal equipment,” Ochola explained. “Following the agreement, Pingire fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing. They were later released, but their equipment was impounded by the Nananga community and reported to Kateta Police Station.”
Ochola expressed concern over what he described as a procedural lapse, noting that it remains unclear why the OC of Olagara Police Station reportedly conducted the recovery operation without notifying key local and security authorities, including the LCIII office, GISO, OC Kateta Police Station, the District Police Commander (DPC) Serere, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
He added that the operation was carried out late in the evening, a factor that may have caused suspicion among residents.
“The people of Nananga may have mistaken the officers for police from Pingire who had come to forcefully recover the illegal gear. The timing of the operation caused panic and confusion,” he said.
According to preliminary reports, a confrontation erupted shortly after the police team arrived.
During the chaos, officers reportedly fired live bullets, injuring several people, including fellow officers and crime preventers accompanying the operation.
The injured officer has been identified as Ochana, alongside several unnamed crime preventers, who were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.
The LCIII further revealed that after the officers allegedly ran out of ammunition, an angry crowd surrounded them, resulting in mob violence that left Constable Otirian fatally injured.
“This was a very unfortunate escalation. When the bullets were finished, the crowd overpowered the officers and beat them. That is how one officer lost his life,” he said.
Constable Otirian’s body has been transported to Serere District Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
Security agencies have launched inquiries to establish the exact circumstances that led to the death and injuries.
Police are also expected to investigate allegations of excessive use of force, the decision-making process behind the operation, and the role of local disputes over illegal fishing practices.
The incident underscores tensions surrounding illegal fishing enforcement on Lake Kyoga and highlights the need for stronger collaboration between security agencies, local governments, and fishing communities to prevent further loss of life.
