Security forces in West Nile have intensified efforts to locate and secure the release of Private Edwin Chelimo, a UPDF soldier who went missing during an anti-illegal fishing operation on the River Nile along the Uganda-DRC border early this morning, May 14, 2025.

Preliminary police reports, SD 03/14/05/2025, indicate that suspected Congolese forces intercepted the patrol around 4:30 a.m. in Dei Subcounty, Pakwach District, seizing Private Chelimo’s firearm with 120 rounds of ammunition.

The assailants then took the 24-year-old soldier across the border into DRC territory.

The abduction has heightened tensions along the border, which has long been a hotspot for cross-border conflicts, illegal fishing activities, and territorial disputes. Authorities have urged the public, especially residents in the Dei and Panyimur areas, to remain calm but vigilant. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is encouraged to report to the nearest police post or security unit.

Efforts are also underway at the diplomatic level to engage DRC counterparts and address the violation of Uganda’s territorial integrity. This incident adds to a growing list of security concerns on Uganda’s western frontier, underscoring the need for strengthened cross-border collaboration and enhanced patrol coordination.