Amidst concerns over the sudden disappearance of Private Luke Kaponyang, a UPDF soldier serving in the Fisheries Protection Unit at Lolwe Marine Detach, security operatives in Namayingo District have initiated a thorough investigation into the perplexing case.

Reports suggest that Private Kaponyang, bearing R/A.248760, vanished under mysterious circumstances while on duty, sending shockwaves through the community.

According to Namayingo Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Trevor Solomon Baleke, the 28-year-old soldier is believed to have met a tragic fate while fulfilling his duty. Allegations point to his abduction by Kenyan fishermen during the early hours of May 15.

Initial findings indicate that Private Kaponyang, accompanied by four colleagues under the command of Lt Aggrey Acwamu, intercepted four fishermen engaging in illegal fishing activities within Ugandan waters near Hama and Wayasi islands in Namayingo. However, in a shocking turn of events, the Kenyan fishermen reportedly seized Kaponyang and fled the scene with him aboard their vessel.

Authorities have since launched a probe into the suspected murder by drowning, filing a case at Namayingo CPS under reference GEF. 12/2024. Intensive search efforts ensued, leading to a grim discovery on May 24 when fishermen recovered Kaponyang’s lifeless body from the waters of Lake Victoria near Singila island in Dolwe Subcounty.

Deputy RDC Baleke confirmed the retrieval of the soldier’s remains, which were promptly handed over to the Fisheries Protection Unit. The body has been transported to Bombo Military Barracks for postmortem examination and subsequent procedures.

Private Kaponyang, hailing from Pallisa District, leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions, prompting authorities to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains gripped by the unsettling mystery shrouding the disappearance and tragic end of a dedicated serviceman