By Robert Segawa
The Uganda Police Force has confirmed that the two firearms recovered during a foiled robbery in Kyotera District last week were police-issued weapons that had been previously lost by officers.
The incident occurred at Kifuta Village in Kabira Sub-county, Kyotera District, where five armed robbers stormed Mazima Bugaga Coffee Factory and attacked the factory manager, 40-year-old Andrew Kagwa. The gang stole Shs 50 million before fleeing the scene on motorcycles.
Police pursued the suspects and intercepted them at Kizigo Village, where a shootout ensued. One of the robbers, identified as Lawrence Ssenyumu, was killed in the exchange, while the other four managed to escape with injuries.
During the operation, police recovered two rifles bearing police markings and a motorcycle with registration number UFV 988N. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that the recovered firearms belonged to the Directorate of Counter Terrorism and had been lost under suspicious circumstances by two officers who are currently on remand.
Kituuma further revealed that the police, in collaboration with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), had arrested the suspected leader of the group, identified as Bruno Juuko. Juuko is believed to be the mastermind behind a series of armed robberies targeting coffee traders in the Masaka, Kalisizo, and surrounding districts.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to apprehend the remaining suspects and trace the origin of the stolen weapons.
