Iganga, Uganda: The territorial police in Iganga District are holding two suspects, including a private security manager and a rice mill worker, over the unlawful possession of a firearm and negligence following the recovery of an abandoned rifle.
The suspects have been identified as Kisambira Sowali, also known as Muwanguzi Innocent, a staff member of Mwana Rice Millers, and Ngobi Ayub, 42, a manager at Safety Services Uganda Limited.
According to Busoga East police spokesperson Michael Kasadha, the arrests stem from an incident in Bukobooli village, Nakalama Sub-county.
Police say that on April 5, at around 7:00 pm, a resident discovered an unidentified man hiding in his abandoned house. The suspect fled on sight, leaving behind an SAR rifle loaded with two rounds of ammunition, along with clothes and two smartphones.
A joint team from Nakalama and Iganga Central Police Stations visited the scene, documented evidence, and deployed a sniffer dog, although tracking was unsuccessful after the scene was reportedly tampered with.
Investigators later traced Kisambira through intelligence leads and found him already in custody at Iganga Central Police Station on separate bicycle theft charges.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to orchestrating the theft of the firearm. Police say he had convinced a security guard attached to Safety Services Uganda Limited to accompany him to a bar on the night of April 4, after which they hid the rifle.
He later returned alone, stole the weapon, and concealed himself in an abandoned house before fleeing when discovered.
Authorities say the suspect used multiple identities, including Walujo Banuli, to evade detection. He also reportedly identified the recovered phones as his by unlocking them.
Further investigations revealed that the security guard who was initially in possession of the firearm had been deployed at Hill Water in Mutambala Ward, but later went missing and remains at large. Police faulted the private security company for failing to report the loss of the firearm.
Ngobi Ayub, the company’s branch manager, was subsequently detained after allegedly concealing information regarding the missing gun.
“This points to laxity by the company in monitoring and supervising guards and firearms. There was no formal report about the missing weapon,” ASP Kasadha noted.
Police are continuing investigations to establish how the firearm ended up in civilian hands and whether there are wider lapses within private security operations.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, cases involving illegal possession of firearms and misuse of weapons remain a serious concern, often linked to violent crimes such as aggravated robbery. The report also highlights gaps in supervision within private security firms as a recurring risk factor.
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