Coffee worth Shs 229mln stolen while in transit to Kampala

KIRUHURA, February 17, 2025 – Police in Kiruhura district are investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft of 13.3 tonnes of coffee worth Shs 229 million by unknown individuals.

According to Samson Kasasira, Police Publicist for the Rwizi Region, the stolen coffee was hijacked while in transit from Ibanda through Kiruhura Districts en route to Namanve, Kampala, for export.

“It is alleged that on 11 February 2025, a motor vehicle with registration number UAW 505Y was dispatched from Olam Uganda Limited’s Ibanda branch, carrying coffee of fairly average quality, equivalent to 13.3 tonnes, belonging to David Twebaze. The cargo was being escorted by Isaac Twesiime and was destined for Namanve, Kampala. However, when the vehicle bypassed Rushere Town Council, the manager at Olam Uganda’s Ibanda branch stopped receiving updates on the movement of the cargo, as both the driver and escort’s phones became unreachable,” Kasasira explained.

This situation raised concerns for the manager, who, on 12 February 2025, reported the matter to Rushere Police Station after receiving information from the escort that the vehicle had been hijacked by suspected criminals posing as traffic police officers.

“They were three individuals impersonating traffic police officers, along with two armed officers from the Field Force Unit [FFU], who intercepted the vehicle at the Kaguta Road junction. They assaulted the two coffee dealers, then placed them in a Toyota Wish [registration number unknown], drove them, and abandoned them in the Buloba papyrus swamp in a critical condition,” he added.

Kasasira stated that police in Kiruhura District worked with their counterparts in Lyantonde District to track down the motor vehicle, which was recovered abandoned in Kamazzi Katovu, Lwengo District, along the road, but without the coffee.

“It was discovered that the coffee had been offloaded and transferred to another vehicle that remains unidentified, around the Kigaaga Village area in Katovu,” he noted.

Both the driver and the escort were found severely beaten, with visible injuries, and were transferred from Buloba to Rushere for medical treatment. They are currently assisting police with their investigations.

Kasasira described the incident as unfortunate but emphasised the importance of traders ensuring proper security when transporting goods. He appealed to traders to hire competent security officers to safeguard their products during transit.

“Although such incidents are rare in the Ankole region, traders should understand that coffee has become a highly sought-after cash crop. Therefore, it is advisable to employ police officers or competent security personnel to protect goods during transportation. This should serve as a lesson to other traders,” he said.

In a related development, police in Isingiro district are investigating the circumstances surrounding an attempted theft at a local SACCO, which was foiled by a security guard named Nickson Rugankira, although he sustained injuries during the confrontation.

“They attempted to steal money from Nyamuyanja Subcounty SACCO in Isingiro District, but the theft was thwarted by a security guard during the night,” Kasasira reported.

He also appealed to SACCO leaders in Isingiro District to consider hiring private security to ensure the safety of members’ savings.

https://thecooperator.news/ntungamo-dairy-coop-bosses-suspended-over-missing-shs-28bln/

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