Uganda Police Confirm Recovered Firearms from Kyotera Robbery Were Lost Service Weapons

Police in Uganda have confirmed that two firearms recovered following a thwarted robbery in Kyotera District last week were officially registered as missing weapons belonging to the Uganda Police Force. The incident occurred at Mazima Bugaga Coffee Factory in Kifuta Village, Kabira Sub-county, where five armed individuals stormed the facility, attacked the factory manager, and fled with Shs 50 million in cash.

During the subsequent pursuit, a shootout erupted in Kizigo Village, resulting in the death of one robber, Lawrence Ssenyumu, while four others managed to escape, though they were injured. Among the items recovered at the scene were two rifles with police insignia and a motorcycle with registration number UFV 988N.

Kituuma Rusoke, the police spokesperson, revealed that the recovered firearms were linked to the Directorate of Counter Terrorism and had been reported as lost by two officers currently in custody. He also shared that, in collaboration with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), authorities have apprehended Bruno Juuko, suspected to be the mastermind behind a spate of armed robberies targeting coffee traders in Masaka, Kalisizo, and neighboring districts.

Investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects and determine how the weapons were lost. This development has raised questions about the security protocols within the police force and the need for stricter accountability measures to prevent such incidents in the future.