A 25-year-old fisherman, Dennis Lutaaya, met a tragic end on the waters of the River Nile in Kibuye Village, Kamuli District, when he drowned while trying to flee from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) marines.
The fatal incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked outrage among the fishing community, with accusations that the enforcement officers failed to intervene and instead mocked the drowning man.
According to eyewitnesses, Lutaaya and his fishing companion, Mr. Edirisa Kasozi, were retrieving fish from their nets when they heard the ominous hum of an approaching boat engine.
The sound sent a wave of panic through them, as they immediately suspected it to be the FPU soldiers, who have long been known for their aggressive crackdowns on fishermen accused of engaging in illegal fishing practices.
“We were in a boat removing fish from the nets when we heard a boat engine from a distance. We got suspicious that they could be FPU soldiers. Before we could get somewhere to hide, the soldiers who were carrying out patrols using a speedboat caught up with us,” recounted Mr. Kasozi, the chairperson of the fishing community at Kibuye Landing Site.
Faced with the imminent threat of arrest and possible confiscation of their fishing equipment, Lutaaya and Kasozi scrambled to escape.
In a desperate attempt to evade capture, Lutaaya leaped from the boat into the water, unaware that his inability to swim would soon seal his fate. The swift-moving currents of the Nile proved merciless as he struggled to stay afloat.
Kasozi, who witnessed the harrowing ordeal, described how Lutaaya thrashed in the water, crying out for help.
“Lutaaya, who did not know how to swim, drowned as he attempted to make an alarm requesting to be rescued. My attempts to save him were futile as the soldiers just stood there laughing at us,” he said.
According to Kasozi, the FPU marines did nothing to assist his drowning friend.
Instead, they reportedly watched with indifference, even finding amusement in his distress.
As Lutaaya’s cries weakened and his body sank beneath the surface, the soldiers sped off, leaving Kasozi behind to deal with the tragic aftermath.
The heart-wrenching scene drew other fishermen to the site, who later retrieved Lutaaya’s lifeless body. His remains were taken to his parents’ home, where grief-stricken relatives and community members laid him to rest on the same day.
When reached for comment, Lt. Col Mercy Tukahirwa, the commander of the Fisheries Protection Unit, dismissed allegations of negligence by the FPU soldiers.
She maintained that Lutaaya was responsible for his own demise, having panicked and jumped into the water without a lifejacket.
“We are not to blame for his death because he drowned by himself. I wonder why these fishermen flee or fall in water when they see us. We are human beings like them, so they should stop fearing us,” Lt. Col Tukahirwa said.
She added that the UPDF marines have made concerted efforts to educate local fishermen about the dangers of illegal fishing and the importance of following the guidelines set by the authorities. However, she claimed, many fishermen continue to resist these measures.
Despite her statements, the fishing community at Kibuye Landing Site remains furious and devastated. Many argue that the heavy-handed tactics employed by the FPU marines have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, leading to unnecessary deaths such as Lutaaya’s.
Some fishermen believe that the enforcement officers are more concerned with exerting control rather than genuinely assisting or protecting them.
As the village mourns the loss of a young life, questions linger over the actions of the UPDF marines and their responsibility in the tragic death of Dennis Lutaaya.
His drowning has intensified calls for accountability, with demands for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the FPU soldiers and the broader enforcement of fishing regulations on the River Nile.
