Two individuals, a businesswoman from Nyelwa Village in Koboko District and a South Sudanese refugee, were apprehended by the police on Wednesday for illegal possession of firearms. The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by local law enforcement, the GISO of Midia Sub County, and community leaders.
Ms. Josephine Angucia, the West Nile region police spokesperson, reported that the confiscated items included a pistol, an SMG rifle along with 78 rounds of ammunition, a green plastic army bottle, and six MTN sim cards.
The firearms and other materials were discovered in a rental room linked to the businesswoman. The room had previously been rented by an individual known as Ivan, who had stayed for two weeks before disappearing to an undisclosed location.
At present, the suspects, along with the seized items, are being held at Koboko Central Police Station while investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Mr. Brani Acikule, the LC3 chairperson of Midia Sub County, has urged residents to remain vigilant. He emphasized that certain criminals exploit the peri-urban locations of the sub-county to take shelter. This practice has been a recurring issue.
This incident is not the first of its kind in Koboko District. In the past six months, local authorities have uncovered illegal firearms, with arrests made in April, including the apprehension of two individuals suspected of terrorizing residents in the area.