Police officer who lost job after missed headcount arrested
Nickson Mangeni, 36, was arrested on September 4, 2026, after police received information that he was keeping a police uniform at his residence in Mawero East B cell, North C ward, Eastern division, Busia municipality.
Police officer who lost job after missed headcount arrested
Missing a public service headcount while pursuing a lucrative charcoal business in Kenya cost former police officer his career after he eventually deserted the force and was arrested with a complete Field Force Unit (FFU) uniform at his home in Busia.
Nickson Mangeni, 36, was arrested on September 4, 2026, after police received information that he was keeping a police uniform at his residence in Mawero East B cell, North C ward, Eastern division, Busia municipality.
A search of his home by scene of crime officers, criminal investigations officers and detectives led to the recovery of a complete FFU camouflage uniform, a police cap and boots.
Mangeni was taken to Busia Central Police Station and charged with being in possession of government stores under SD Reference 50/04/09/2026 as investigations commenced.
Johnson Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi South Regional Police spokesperson, said preliminary investigations established that Mangeni joined the Uganda Police Force in 2014 as a member of the 19th intake and completed his training in 2015.
However, while serving in the area, Mangeni reportedly ventured into the charcoal business in Busia, which police said became increasingly profitable and eventually consumed much of his attention.
In 2022, he was transferred to Apaa, but the transfer was reportedly cancelled, leaving him at Police Headquarters in Naguru.
According to Mugwe, Mangeni would travel from Naguru to Busia to continue with his charcoal and timber businesses.
His growing involvement in business eventually landed him in trouble when he missed a public service headcount in 2022 after travelling to Nairobi, Kenya, for business.
Police said he subsequently lost his salary and spent about six months trying unsuccessfully to have it restored.
His problems were compounded when his charcoal truck was impounded in Amuria district, an incident police said was followed by health complications, including high blood pressure.
“Due to those reasons of missing salary and health issues, he decided to desert and started business life but went with the uniform,” Mugwe said.
Police said Mangeni subsequently deserted the force but retained the police uniform and other government stores.
The uniform recovered from a black case was reportedly new and showed no signs of extensive use.
Investigators are now examining how Mangeni came to retain the government stores after deserting the force and whether they were ever used for any unlawful purpose.
Mugwe said inquiries were still ongoing and further details would emerge as investigations progress.
Mangeni remains in police custody as investigators continue with the case.