Lira City, August 11, 2025 – The territorial police in Lira-City West Division are investigating a tragic case of suicide by hanging reported in Ober Kampala cell on Monday morning.

The deceased, identified as Boniface Okello, a student at Lira University and a local referee, was found dead in an apparent suicide.

According to a statement from the police, the incident was reported by Omara Tony, a 30-year-old medical personnel and resident of Ober Kampala cell, at approximately 7:00 AM on August 11, 2025. The police, led by the District Police Commander (DPC) of Lira City West, the Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (OC CID), and a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), promptly visited and documented the scene.

According to the North Kyoga Region Police Spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema, the body of Boniface Okello was found hanging from a tree, approximately seven meters above the ground, with his legs swinging at an elevation of three meters. The deceased was dressed in a blue trouser with a brown belt and a green striped t-shirt. A pair of sandals was found beneath the tree.

Notable observations included a V-shaped mark on the neck, the head twisted to the left, the tongue protruding, and feces visible in the deceased’s trouser. Bruises were also noted on the left cheek, though the body appeared well-nourished. The scene was located approximately three meters from the deceased’s dwelling house, with his hands hanging freely in the air—indicators consistent with suicide.

The body was transported to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination, accompanied by Police Forms 48A and 48B. Relevant statements from witnesses have been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.

Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Public Relations Officer and Superintendent of Police, expressed condolences, describing the incident as “very unfortunate.” He urged the public to seek support from friends, relatives, religious, and cultural leaders to address personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of sharing problems to find solutions.

The investigation remains ongoing as the police work to establish the circumstances leading to this tragic event. Authorities have encouraged anyone with information to come forward to assist in the inquiry.

Written by

Francis Oyet

Oyet Francis Opwonya, known commonly as Francis L’Oyet is a Ugandan South Sudanese investigative journalist and software engineer. Oyet is the founder and CEO of Oyet Broadcasting Services (OBS Network), an innovation hub and headquarters of The Northern Press in Uganda and The Malakal Press, located in Malakal City, Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan