Two suspects die in Lango police custody within a week

The Lango sub-regional police has registered the deaths of two suspects within a single week, both occurring while in police custody in the districts of Apac and Kole.

The two men, identified Odongo Jimmy, 32, and Ogwang Tonny, 42, died under similar, tragic circumstances shortly after their arrest. Investigations by the police in both districts have commenced.

In Apac district police are investigating the sudden death of Odongo Jimmy, a peasant farmer and resident of Barobia Cell, Worwmaka Ward, Agulu Division, Apac Municipality.

The North Kyoga Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, provided details of the events leading to the death. He stated that on the night of March 7, 2026, A-One Hotel was broken into, and property valued at approximately shs150,000 was stolen.

A case of burglary and theft was registered at Apac Central Police Station (CPS), leading to the arrest of the watchman, Okwir Calvin, and his friend, the now-deceased Odongo Jimmy, both residents of the same area, to assist with investigations.

The two suspects were subsequently detained at Apac CPS.

SP Okema confirmed that on March 9, 2026, at around 9:30 pm, while in police custody, Odongo began behaving abnormally, shouting and disturbing other suspects in the cells.

According to his cellmate, Okwir Calvin, this prompted police officers on duty to isolate him, and he was detained alone in a separate cell for the safety and order of the holding facility.

The following morning, on March 10, 2026, at around 8:00 am, during the routine suspects’ parade, all detainees were brought out of their cells. At that time, Odongo Jimmy appeared visibly weak. The Officer in Charge (OC) of Apac CPS immediately ordered that he be rushed to the hospital.

He was placed in a police patrol vehicle and taken to Apac Main Hospital, where he was examined by the attending medical officer and later pronounced dead.

A case of sudden death has been registered, and the body conveyed to the Apac Main Hospital Mortuary, pending a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.

In the wake of the incident, the Apac Police management team, led by the OC Station ASP Nkamwesiga Timothy, held a meeting with the family members and clan leaders of the deceased to brief them on the circumstances.

The family expressed satisfaction with the preliminary explanation and requested that the postmortem examination be conducted promptly as they prepare for the burial arrangements.

Meanwhile, in a separate but similarly tragic incident in Kole district, a 42-year-old man who had been arrested on assault charges collapsed and died at the Kole Central Police Station (CPS) on Sunday. The suspect has been identified as Ogwang Tonny, a resident of Lwala trading centre in Ayer sub-county.

According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the incident occurred on the morning of March 8, 2026, at around 9:15 am. The suspect collapsed within the police premises shortly after his arrest.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby health facility but was pronounced dead on arrival.

SP Okema emphasised that investigations into both matters are ongoing and that further updates will be provided accordingly as police work to establish the exact causes of these two tragic deaths.