One fisherman is dead after he panicked and fell into Lake Albert in Hoima district following an encounter with Fisheries Protection Unit -FPU personnel who were approaching him.
The fisherman only been identified as Owonda was attached to Kijangi landing site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub county in Hoima district and he died on Sunday morning at around 10am.
According to his colleagues, Owonda was with three other fishermen whose names are yet to be established, when they saw the FPU team who accused them of using illegal fishing gear.
Due to the fear of getting arrested, the deceased panicked and jumped into the lake, leading to his death.
The Defense secretary Kijangi landing site village Jonah Ndahura, says that Owonda died on the spot, while the other two remained calm and escaped.
Marine police and local fishermen teamed up and retrieved the body on Sunday evening which was later handed over to the relatives for burial.
By press time, the FPU was yet comment on the matter, but Julius Hakiza the Albertine region police spokesperson confirmed the incident saying they have launched investigations.
the FPU operatives have been conducting incessant operation against illegal fishing gear on the lake Albert waters since August this year.
The operation is targeting undersized boats, fishing nets, hooks and monofilament nets among others.
