Mbarara City, Uganda: Police in Mbarara City have arrested a suspect over the alleged theft of coffee produce after a sniffer dog tracked the scent from the crime scene directly to his home.
The suspect, identified as Asiimwe Darias, is currently being held by police at Kitaba in Kicwamba Village, Nyakayojo Sub-county, Mbarara City South Division as investigations continue.
According to police, the incident was reported on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at around 8:00am when a local farmer visited his coffee garden to harvest mature coffee.
Upon arrival, the farmer discovered that unknown individuals had allegedly harvested and stolen the coffee during the night.
The complainant immediately reported the matter to Ruti Police Station and requested support from the Police K-9 Unit to help track down the suspects.
A team of investigators, accompanied by the K-9 Unit, responded to the scene and found the crime scene intact.
Police sniffer dog T/P 261 PILOT was introduced to the scene and successfully picked up a human scent believed to be linked to the theft.
The dog reportedly tracked the scent for approximately 900 metres before leading officers to the residence of Asiimwe.
Police subsequently conducted a search at the suspect’s home, where they recovered freshly harvested coffee believed to be connected to the reported theft. The recovered coffee was seized as evidence while the suspect was taken into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
Authorities say further inquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding the theft and determine whether other individuals may have been involved.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns among farmers over coffee theft, which remains one of the major challenges affecting coffee-growing communities across parts of Uganda.
Police have urged farmers to promptly report suspicious activities and preserve crime scenes whenever thefts occur to aid investigations.
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