The police in Uganda’s Koboko District in West Nile Region last week arrested two people including a male South Sudanese refugee identified as Chandiga Francis on charges related to the illegal possession of firearms.
The South Sudanese Refugee whose identity was withheld was arrested alongside Zubeda Gisima, a prominent businesswoman in Koboko town, last Wednesday during an intelligence-led operation conducted in Nyelwa village, Midia sub-county by police, the Internal Security Organization’s officer in charge of Midia Sub County and Local Council leaders.
“On the 25 October 2023 at 10 a.m. an intelligence-led operation was executed in Nyelwa village in Midia sub-county in Koboko District. This operation was a collaborative effort, involving a joint team of police officers, the GISO of Midia Sub-county in Koboko, and local LCs, leading to the successful recovery of a firearm with ammunition,” West Nile Region Police Spokesperson, Josephine Angucia on Thursday morning. “The operation began with the securement of the premises of Zubeda Gisima, a 30-year-old Kakwa businesswoman and resident of Nyelwa village, Midia sub-county, Koboko District, where the suspected firearm with ammunition was believed to be located.”
According to the Regional Police mouthpiece, a thorough search was conducted within the premises, focusing particularly on a rental room previously occupied by an individual known only as Ivan.
“Ivan had rented the room for two weeks before disappearing to an undisclosed location,” Angucia revealed. “The search uncovered several items, including a pistol without a magazine, seventy-eight (78) live SMG Rifle ammunition, a green plastic army bottle, and six MTN SIM cards.”
Additionally, the individuals associated with the premises underwent scrutiny, Zubeda Gisima, the landlady connected to the suspect Ivan, and the individual who facilitated Ivan’s room rental arrangement, Chandiga Francis, a South Sudanese refugee, were apprehended by the police to assist in the ongoing investigations.
The suspects, along with the recovered items, are currently at Koboko Central Police Station while investigations into the matter continue.
This is not the first time police in Koboko District have recovered illegal firearms within the past six months. In April, they recovered two illegal guns and arrested two men suspected of terrorizing residents.