Police have confirmed that the two guns recovered following a foiled armed robbery in Kyotera District were government-issued firearms that had previously gone missing from the force.
The confirmation comes days after five armed men reportedly robbed Shs50 million from Andrew Kagwa, the 40-year-old manager of Mazima Bugaga Coffee Factory in Kifuta Village, Kabira Sub-county. The robbers struck in broad daylight before fleeing the scene.
A swift police pursuit resulted in the shooting and killing of one suspect, while the remaining four managed to escape. Security personnel recovered two rifles and a motorcycle from the scene.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, Police spokesperson SCP Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that the recovered firearms were indeed police property.
“The two guns belong to the Uganda Police Force. Our officers lost those guns, and disciplinary action has since been taken against them,” Rusoke said.
He explained that the officers linked to the loss of the firearms were charged and remain on remand. While police occasionally record incidents of lost firearms, Rusoke emphasized that the circumstances surrounding this particular case pointed to gross negligence.
“If you lose a gun, we investigate the context under which it went missing. If your defense is weak or unacceptable, you are held accountable,” he stated.
Rusoke assured the public that the force remains committed to ensuring internal accountability and preventing police-issued weapons from falling into criminal hands.
