UPDF officer abducted by armed Congolese Forces in Pakwach
Multi-agency investigations are ongoing to identify the assailants and uncover the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
Pakwach: Security authorities have launched an investigation into a serious cross-border incident in which a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier was abducted by armed Congolese military personnel during an operation on Lake Albert.
The soldier, Private Edwin Chelimo, 24, a resident of Dei Subcounty, Pakwach District, was captured in the early hours of Wednesday, May 14, by a group of eight heavily armed men identified as members of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military.
The incident occurred during a UPDF-led operation targeting illegal fishing activities in the Kabolwa and Bugoigoi areas on Lake Albert. Pte Chelimo was part of a patrol team commanded by Corporal Paul Ssemugenyi, based in Panyimur Town Council.
According to Superintendent of Police Collins Asea, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, the UPDF patrol was ambushed at approximately 6:30 a.m. on their return to Dei Landing Site.
The attackers, armed with two light machine guns and AK-47 rifles, abducted Pte Chelimo, seizing his service rifle (loaded with 120 rounds of ammunition), a patrol boat, and its engine before fleeing into Congolese territory.
“During their return journey to Dei Landing Site, they encountered an ambush by approximately eight members of the Congo Army. They abducted Pte Chelimo along with his firearm, a boat, and an engine,” said SP Asea.
A case has been registered at Panyimur Police Station under SD Ref: 03/14/05/2025. Security agencies have informed relevant authorities and are working to de-escalate tensions and secure the safe return of the abducted soldier.
Multi-agency investigations are ongoing to identify the assailants and uncover the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
The abduction comes despite ongoing joint UPDF-FARDC operations intended to stabilize Eastern DRC, a region fraught with militia violence. The incident highlights the fragile nature of cross-border military cooperation and calls for urgent diplomatic engagement to avoid further escalation.
Authorities have called for heightened vigilance in border areas and appealed to the public and regional partners to report any information that could aid in the recovery of the officer and resolution of the incident.
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