Iganga police arrest two over security guards' missing rifle

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Police have arrested two suspects in connection with unlawful possession of a firearm and negligence following the recovery of an abandoned rifle in Nakalama sub-county in Iganga district.

According to Busoga East regional police spokesperson Michael Kasadha, the suspects include Sowali Kisambira, also known as Innocent Muwanguzi, a staff member of Mwana Rice Millers, and Ngobi Ayub, the branch manager of Safety Services Uganda Limited.

Police said the case stems from an incident on April 5, 2026, at around 7:00 pm, when a resident of Bukalambwa village in Iganga discovered an unknown person inside an abandoned house in Bukobooli village.

Upon being spotted, the suspect fled, leaving behind an SAR rifle (No. UG PSO 3200050-05956), two live rounds of ammunition, clothes, and two smartphones.

A team from Nakalama Police Station and detectives from Iganga Central Police Station visited the scene and documented the evidence. A sniffer dog was introduced, but lost the scent after the scene was reportedly contaminated.

Investigators launched a manhunt that led them to Kisambira, who was already in custody at Iganga Central Police Station on allegations of stealing a bicycle. During interrogation, police established that the suspect used multiple identities, including Walujo Banuli and Innocent Muwanguzi.

Police say Kisambira admitted to convincing a security guard attached to Safety Services Uganda Limited to accompany him to a bar on April 4.

Before leaving, they allegedly hid the rifle together. He later returned alone, stole the firearm, and hid in an abandoned house before fleeing and abandoning it when discovered.

The suspect also admitted ownership of the recovered phones after unlocking them for investigators.

Police subsequently invited Ayub to verify the security firm’s firearms inventory. Authorities say he allegedly failed to disclose that a gun had gone missing from the company.

Further investigations revealed that the guard assigned to duty at Hill Water in Mutambala ward on April 4 went missing and remains at large. Police say the lack of accountability points to lax supervision and monitoring of guards and firearms by the security company.

Ayub was detained to account for the missing firearm and the absence of any formal report regarding its loss.