The uganda police through the spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma ,have confirmed the recovery of an illegal firearm during an intelligence-led operation carried out by Joint security forces from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the UPDF on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
”Joint security forces from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the @MODVA_UPDF yesterday Sunday, April 12, 2026, successfully recovered an illegal firearm during an intelligence-led operation”. the police statement reads in part.
The police have confirmed that during the Operation,Lolem Lopusiteba, a 68-year-old male resident of kananwar village,Langaroe sub-county,Kotido district was arrested with one SMG riffle with a single round of ammunition.
”This development follows investigations into a recent highway robbery along the Kaabong–Kotido road, where the suspect’s son, Locheng Apalothia, is alleged to have used the firearm” adds the police statement.
The police have confirmed that 107 heads of cattle and three donkeys were impounded from kananwar village in connection with the same incident.
Kituuma Rusoke has confirmed through the same statement that the recovered firearm and the suspect are currently in UPDF custody for further management as Security and disarmament operations remain ongoing across the Karamoja sub-region, aimed at curbing the illegal possession of firearms and restoring peace within communities.
According to the annual police crime report of 2025 released in early 2026,201 of the 214 stolen heads of cattle in Kotido were recovered,in karamoja region,a total of 2,375 heads were stolen in 2025 compared to 2,728 in 2024 reflecting a 12.9 reduction in cattle theft in the karamoja region .
