Wakiso, (UG):- The Police in Kampala Metropolitan have recovered 218 bags of stolen coffee beans valued at Shs 470 million in a major operation conducted in Sanga Matugga, Wakiso District.
The operation, which took place on January 16, 2025, followed weeks of investigations into a case of stolen goods in transit reported in November 2024.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, SSP Patrick Onyango, the case originated on November 29, 2024, when a truck carrying 21,600 kilograms of coffee beans, destined for export from Kasese to an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nakawa, was diverted and a case of stolen coffee opened up at Kawempe Police Station.
“The investigation revealed that a truck carrying 21,600 kg of coffee beans, valued at Shs 470,000,000, was diverted from its original route from Kasese to an ICD in Nakawa for export. The truck, with registration number UBE 355V, was diverted from Kawempe-Bwaise, and the coffee was offloaded into other trucks and transported to Luzira, SSP Onyango explained.
The KMP Publicist added that the coffee was later rejected and collected by a suspect identified as Juma Musisi who allegedly used vehicles with registration numbers UBD 151S and UAM 076N to move the stolen coffee.
Onyango said five individuals have already been arrested and charged with stealing goods in transit, while efforts are underway to apprehend and charge the remaining suspects, including Asiimwe Allan, Kato Kiggundu, Joab Mucunguzi, and Saidi Kasule, alias Bogere.
Musisi himself was apprehended and arraigned in the Chief Magistrates Court in Nabweru but escaped from custody before securing bail. “Efforts are underway to re-arrest him and the other suspects,” he said.
The breakthrough came when police officers from Kawempe Police Station on Thursday raided the home of Steven Bukenya in Sanga Matugga.
“Police recovered 218 bags of coffee from the garage of Bukenya Steven’s home in Sanga Matugga, in the presence of his wife, Nankinga Mariam,” Onyango stated, adding that; “The recovered coffee is the property of Agrievorve Uganda Limited, a company owned by Jonathan Rouland, the complainant in this matter.”
During interrogation by police, Onyango said Ms Nankinga revealed how the suspects had rented the garage in December 2024, to store the coffee.
“The suspects rented her garage in December 2024 and stored the coffee there, paying Shs 200,000 as rent for a month. The recovered coffee was exhibited and transported to Kawempe police station, where it is being guarded pending weighing and advice from the State Attorney on the next course of action,” he stated.
Police reiterated commitment to intensifying efforts to bring all suspects to justice. “We are committed to ensuring that all perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted,” Onyango affirmed, urging the public to report any information that could aid in capturing the remaining suspects.
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