Police have arrested five suspects for stealing coffee beans worth Shs470 million while in transit.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a truck carrying 21,600 kg of coffee beans, valued at Shs470 million, was diverted from its original route from Kasese to an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nakawa for export on November 29-30, 2024.
The truck, with registration number UBE 355V, was diverted from Kawempe-Bwaise, and the coffee was offloaded into other trucks. The stolen coffee was later transported to Luzira in motor vehicles with registration numbers UAY 827Q and UBG 973L, where it was taken to a company for sale.
The coffee was rejected and subsequently collected by the purported seller, Juma Musisi, also known as Young Mandela or Masape, using motor vehicles with registration numbers UBD 151S and UAM 076N.
Five individuals have been arrested and charged with stealing goods in transit. The suspects include Juma Musisi, aged 28; Kenneth Muswabi, aged 35; Kalule Medi, aged 42; and Mugabi Martin, aged 27.
The suspects appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nabweru.
Police report that efforts are underway to apprehend and charge additional suspects still at large, including Asiimwe Allan, Kato Kiggundu, Joab Mucunguzi, and Saidi Kasule, alias Bogere.
