Man dies after collapsing in Kole police cell

9 March 2026, 11:26

By Winnie Auma

Police in Kole District are investigating the sudden death of a 42-year-old man who was found unconscious in a police cell.

According to the North Kyoga Police spokesperson, Jimmy Patrick Okema, the deceased has been identified as Ogwang Tonny, a 42-year-old man and resident of Lwala Trading Centre, Ayer Sub county, Kole District.

Okema said it is alleged that the deceased had earlier been arrested and brought to Kole CPS on 5th March 2026 on allegations of assault, with the complainant being his wife. Upon arrival at the station, he reportedly began behaving unusually, including talking excessively and repeatedly banging the door of the police cell.

He said that on 8th March 2026, at around 9:00 am, the cell guard conducted a routine check and found the suspect weak and unconscious. The matter was immediately reported to the Officer in Charge of the Station, who responded and assessed the situation.

Okema added that the officer directed that the suspect be rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention. Ogwang was transported in a police vehicle at about 9:30 am, but upon arrival at the emergency ward, he was pronounced dead.

He said preliminary findings indicate that the complainant in the assault case is the wife of the deceased. It is also reported that the deceased had allegedly gone on a hunger strike since the previous day.

According to Okema, the police Child and Family Protection Unit were handling the assault case, but observations prior to his death suggested that the deceased had been displaying behaviour consistent with a person experiencing mental health challenges. He said police have opened a Death Enquiry File and conveyed the body to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination.

Okema called for calm from the relatives as efforts to establish the cause of death have begun.