Gun recovered from farm

SECURITY   

KASESE - Security organs in Kasese district are investigating circumstances under which a rusty submachine gun was placed on a farm in Muhokya sub-county.

The AK47 assault rifle, whose serial numbers could not be immediately deciphered because the rust had partly eaten them away, was recovered by civilian farmers in Lyemubuza village Saturday morning.

They reported to the local authorities who in turn alerted a UPDF Sergeant John Beihumbiza, the Fish Protection Unit (FPU) head of operations in charge of Lakes Edward and George.

Loaded with a magazine with two rounds of live bullets, the gun was discovered in a gully between two gardens by one of the farmers, Moses Baguma, as he was urinating over a gulley in the cotton-growing Lyemubuza.

"When I saw the gun immediately alerted the area LC 1 treasurer, Hadijah Biira, who in turn called the area village chairperson, Moses Kalisya.

Biira said the bush in the gulley, which floods from runoff water from the mountains of Muhokya during the dry season, had burnt during a bush fire.

 "When I received a call from Hadijah Biira at around 9.00 am, I immediately informed the OC Muhokya Police station but we were later joined by the OC Kikorongo police post and we went to the scene and found the gun", narrated Moses Kalisya, the LC I chairperson.

The Kikorongo OC Station later alerted Sgt Beihumbiza, prompting the army officer to swing into action to retrieve the gun loaded with a magazine that had the two live bullets.

Kakundele said the gun may have been washed downhill from upstream when the gulley floods from the overlooking Muhokya hills. 

Confirmed 

Confirming the incident, Sgt Beihumbiza said the gun was discovered in a garden about four hundred metres from Kikorongo junction in Queen Elizabeth National Park by a cultivating civilian along a gulley that flows into Lake George.

"We shall take the gun to our armoury at Rusese army barracks for the ballistic experts to determine the serial number and the holder," Beihumbiza said.

But after only being able to read "UG..." Beihumbiza said he believed the rifle was the property of Uganda. 

The eyewitnesses at the time of the incident made statements at Kikorongo Police Station. 

Armed conflicts 

Kasese has had many decades of intermittent armed conflicts between rebel and government forces, during which various weapons have been used.

The conflicts, which started with the Rwenzururu Movement opposed to the Toro Kingdom (1962-1982), were followed by the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU, 1989-1993) and the Allied Democratic Front (ADF, 1986-2007).

All these have used the eastern D.R Congo as their rear fronts. 

In between, the area has also witnessed various criminal activities including armed poaching, especially in Queen Elizabeth National Park and robberies.