Bugiri, Uganda: Shock and grief engulfed the Waka Waka fish landing site in Bulidha Sub-County, Bugiri district, after a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier drowned in Lake Victoria on Thursday evening.
The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old Private Omoding Calvin, who was part of a four-man UPDF team deployed to guard the UN Women fish cage project on the lake. His colleagues later discovered his belongings, a gun, shoes, phone, utensils, and a food flask, abandoned on top of one of the cages.
Eyewitnesses suspect that bad weather could have contributed to the tragedy. “We think he may have been swept by strong winds while cleaning utensils after his meal,” a colleague, only identified as Wandera, told DailyExpress, adding that the incident occurred between 7pm and 8pm.
Local leaders confirmed the drowning, with Odek Micheal, the Defence Secretary at Waka Waka landing site, saying he was alerted by a distress call.
“I rushed to the scene only to find that the officer had drowned. Authorities should provide urgent support in responding to such emergencies,” he said.
Noah Wesige, LC1 Chairperson of Nagulu fish landing site, described the tragedy as unusual. “This is the first soldier to drown here. Normally, such incidents have claimed the lives of fishermen, not soldiers,” he explained.
By press time on Saturday, community divers working alongside the Police Marine Unit were still searching for the body.
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