By Alexander Okori
A 24-year-old man arrested over alleged theft has reportedly died in custody at Iriiri Police Station in Napak district, according to police.
The deceased, identified as Daniel Lokoru, a resident of Iriiri Trading Centre was arrested on Monday, November 9, 2026, in connection with an alleged break-in at a local store and the theft of seven crates of assorted beer.
According to police, officers responded to the reported theft at around 7:00 am, recovered exhibits and arrested Lokoru before detaining him at the station.
However, what was expected to be a routine detention took a tragic turn barely three and a half hours later when officers preparing to facilitate a meeting between Lokoru and his family members found him unresponsive inside the cell.
Police suspect that Lokoru may have taken his own life by hanging, although investigations are underway to establish what exactly happened while he was in custody.
Mike Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police spokesperson, said a team comprising a magistrate, the District Criminal Investigations Officer and a scene-of-crime officer visited the station to examine and document the scene.
Lokoru’s body was later transferred to Moroto Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Longole expressed condolences to the bereaved family, saying investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the young man’s death, with further details expected to be communicated as they become available.
