Busia, Uganda: Police in Eastern Uganda’s Busia District have arrested a 23-year-old man after a police sniffer dog led officers to his residence following a burglary and theft reported in Sikuda Sub-county.
The suspect, identified as Mulyakyami Banuli, a scrap collector and resident of Abocet Village, is accused of breaking into a home and stealing cash and valuables worth millions of shillings.
According to police, the burglary was reported on May 29, 2026, at around midday after unknown individuals allegedly gained entry into a house by digging behind the structure before breaking the door and making off with a mobile phone, camera, laptop, cash and other valuables while the owner was away.
The complainant later reported the matter to police and requested the deployment of a sniffer dog to assist in tracing the suspects.
Police said that upon arrival at the scene, the sniffer dog was introduced to the area by its handler and immediately picked up a scent trail.
The dog reportedly tracked the scent for approximately 800 metres before reaching a junction, where it turned left and continued for another 200 metres before leading officers directly to the suspect’s residence.
According to investigators, officers found Banuli inside the house playing loud music and dancing alone while using a newly acquired woofer suspected to be among the stolen items.
He was immediately arrested.
Cash Recovered
A search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of a bundle of cash amounting to Shs4.6 million, which police say had been hidden under a bed. Additional money recovered from the suspect brought the total amount seized to Shs 4,889,100.
Police also recovered other property believed to be linked to the reported burglary.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
The arrest highlights the growing role of police canine units in criminal investigations across Uganda, particularly in tracing suspects involved in burglary, robbery and theft cases.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, theft and burglary remain among the most commonly reported property-related crimes, prompting law enforcement agencies to increasingly rely on forensic and canine-assisted investigations to improve recovery rates and suspect arrests.
Police have urged members of the public to promptly report criminal incidents and preserve crime scenes to aid investigations.
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