Kampala Metropolitan North Police have intensified efforts to apprehend additional suspects linked to last year’s robbery of coffee beans valued at Shs 40 million.
The robbery occurred on November 29, 2024, in Kawempe, as a truck transporting 21,600 kilograms of coffee, registration number UBE 355V, was en route to Nakawa for export. The vehicle was hijacked, diverted, and the coffee offloaded before being transferred to other trucks and transported to Luzira.
Sources at Kawempe police station revealed that the suspects attempted to sell the coffee to a company in Luzira. However, their plan fell apart when the company rejected the beans. The alleged ringleader, Juma Musisi also known as Young Mandela or Masape then retrieved the coffee and sought alternative buyers in Kampala.
Police tracked the suspects’ movements from Kawempe to Luzira and intercepted two trucks, registration numbers UBD 151S and UAM 076M, along Jinja Road.
So far, five suspects have been arrested and charged with stealing goods in transit at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nabweru. Those in custody include Juma Musisi (alias Young Mandela), 28, Kenneth Muswabi, 35, Medi Kalule, 42 and Martin Mugabi, 27.
Police investigations have identified additional suspects who remain at large. The fugitives include Asiimwe Allan, Kato Kiggundu, Joab Mucunguzi, and Saidi Kasule (alias Bogere).
Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, assured the public, “Efforts are underway to apprehend and charge these remaining suspects. We urge anyone with information on their whereabouts to come forward and assist in their capture.”
Many thieves are targeting coffee beans, even in gardens.
Farmers wake up in the morning to find their gardens vandalised. I wish the President expedites the Local Defence system plan that he’s promised coffee farmers.