'Fake gun found at bridge in Soroti might have been for robbery mission'
“A joint team visited the scene and recovered a toy gun improvised from elephant grass and smeared with mud. The item was documented and taken as an exhibit.”
A toy gun improvised from elephant grass and smeared with mud. (Photo by Uganda Police Force)
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For several tense minutes, seasoned police officers in Soroti city believed they could be walking straight into an ambush.
It was around 9pm on Thursday (May 7), when a distress call crackled through the police communication system at East Division Police Station.
An abandoned gun had reportedly been spotted at Apalitunga Bridge along the Soroti–Moroto highway — an area notorious for insurgency-era killings, armed robberies, and mysterious attacks.
It is the reason the deployed police officers approached the spot with caution, according to a source familiar with the operation.
There were fears that armed criminals, lying in wait, could have used the weapon as bait to draw officers into a deadly ambush.
“Some officers were genuinely scared. There was real tension. Everyone knew the history of that place," the source said.
But they were stunned by what they ended up finding at the spot.
Instead of a deadly rifle, they found something made to look like one, deftly crafted using elephant grass and smeared with mud to mimic the appearance of a real firearm.
East Kyoga Regional Police Commander Ibrahim Saiga confirmed the bizarre discovery.
“A joint team visited the scene and recovered a toy gun improvised from elephant grass and smeared with mud. The item was documented and taken as an exhibit.”
Police now suspect the fake weapon may have been intended for use in a planned robbery that was either abandoned or interrupted before execution.
“Police have intensified patrols in the area as investigations continue. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities,” said Saiga.
The unsettling discovery comes at a time when security agencies in Teso sub-region remain on high alert following the brutal shooting of mobile money operator and businesswoman Patricia Kokunda on Good Friday in Soroti.
So far, close to 20 suspects have been arrested, with investigators recovering an AK-47 rifle and more than 20 rounds of ammunition as investigations continue.
In today’s Soroti, police say, no threat — real or fake — can be taken lightly.