Pallisa, Uganda: Police in Bukedi North Region have launched investigations into the suspected murder of a fisherman who was allegedly beaten and thrown into Kawi Lake following a violent clash with members of a Beach Management Unit (BMU).
The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at around midday at Kawi Swamp/Lake in Pallisa District, where a group of fishermen from Olok Sub-county reportedly encountered a BMU enforcement team led by a man identified only as Okeleta from Apopong Sub-county.
According to preliminary police findings, a misunderstanding between the two groups quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. During the scuffle, one of the fishermen, identified as Oonyu Simon, also known as Obiro, was reportedly assaulted, seriously injured, and thrown into the lake, where he drowned.
His colleagues immediately raised alarm and, together with other fishermen, mounted a search operation. The victim’s body was recovered the following day, Thursday, April 9, at about 4:00 pm.
Bukedi North Regional Police Public Relations Officer ASP Wilfred Kyempasa confirmed the incident, noting that a team of investigators was promptly dispatched to the scene.
“A team of police officers led by the Officer in Charge of Pallisa Police Station, the Deputy CID, Scene of Crime Officers and other detectives visited the scene. The body was retrieved and taken to Pallisa General Hospital for a postmortem examination,” Kyempasa said.
Police have since registered the case as murder under CRB 145/2026, following a report filed by Iyogil Michael, a 27-year-old student and resident of Obungai Village in Olok Sub-county.
By press time, no arrests had been made, with police indicating that inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal incident and identify the suspects involved.
The killing has heightened tensions among fishing communities in the area, where disputes between fishermen and BMU enforcement teams over fishing grounds and regulations have occasionally turned violent.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, cases of assault and violent disputes in community-based resource settings, including fishing areas, remain a concern, often linked to enforcement conflicts and competition over livelihoods.
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