Uganda hands over bodies of suspected congolese militiamen

Kikube, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The bodies of two suspected nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo who were shot dead on Lake Albert have been handed over to the DRC government. 

The two; Opio Ozelle and Singa Kowe were killed in a fire exchange with Uganda Peoples Defense Forces -UPDF soldiers on April 9, 2020, after they were found robbing Ugandan fishermen. Five others were also arrested by the UPDF while on the lake.

According to the army, the militiamen raided Lake Albert and crossed near Kaiso Landing Site in Buseruka sub-county Hoima district where they put several Ugandan fishermen at gunpoint ordering them to surrender their fishing gear including boats, fishing nets, engines and hooks among others.

However, some of the Ugandan fishermen alerted UPDF who rushed to their rescue. Before the UPDF soldiers could reach them, the suspected militiamen opened fire leading to fire exchange between them and the UPDF and in the process, two of the Militiamen were killed.

The bodies of were exhumed on Thursday from the Hoima Municipal Cemetery where they had been temporarily buried. Brigadier Micheal Nyarwa, the Commander UPDF Marines who handed over the bodies at Sebigoro Landing Site in Kikuube district cautioned DRC nationals against crossing into Uganda and robbing fishermen. 

Lt Col Solomon Odosi, the Team leader from Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism called for immediate demarcation of Lake Albert boundaries in order to solve the water-boundary related conflicts in which so many lives have been lost. He too calls for dialogue to solve any conflict between DR Congo and Uganda. 

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