Police in Mityana have recovered a rifle that had gone missing from a private security guard nearly three weeks ago, bringing relief to residents who had been concerned about the weapon's whereabouts.
The firearm, serial number UG PSO-564211567/15036, was discovered hidden in a heap of bean husks in Kassanda District, raising fresh questions about how it was moved from Mityana to another district.
The rifle disappeared on May 20, 2026, while in the possession of Baluku Anderson, a security guard attached to Neptune Guards Ltd.
At the time, Baluku had been deployed at Shrida Investment Ltd in Kiwesa Cell, South Ward, Ttamu Division, Mityana Municipality.
Following the disappearance of the firearm, Baluku was arrested and later remanded as investigations into the matter commenced.
According to SSP Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, the breakthrough came on June 11, 2026, when a resident of Kikandwa Village in Kalwana Sub-county, Kassanda District, unexpectedly discovered the weapon.
“The rifle was recovered after a resident identified as Salim Matovu discovered it hidden inside bean husks in his garden and immediately alerted authorities,” Kigozi said.
Police said Matovu had gone to his garden at around 1:00 p.m. to collect bean husks for roasting maize when he noticed a suspicious object wrapped in a black pair of trousers. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was a firearm.
The bean husks had reportedly been left in the garden after the family harvested and threshed beans on June 6.
Shocked by the discovery, Matovu informed his son, Erias Sebakumba, who visited the scene and confirmed that the concealed object was indeed a gun.
“Realising the seriousness of the matter, the family reported the incident to Kikandwa Police Station, enabling officers to respond immediately,” Kigozi added.
Police officers visited and documented the scene before recording witness statements. The firearm was recovered and secured as an exhibit pending further investigations.
Authorities later confirmed that the serial number on the recovered weapon matched that of the rifle reported missing in Mityana, effectively ending the search for the firearm.
“The recovery of the rifle is a significant development in the case. However, investigations are continuing to establish how the weapon moved from Mityana to Kikandwa and who may have been involved in concealing it,” Kigozi noted.
Security officials have reassured residents that the firearm is now safely in police custody.
“We wish to inform members of the public who were concerned about the missing gun that it has been recovered and is under secure police custody. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances under which it ended up in Kassanda,” he said.
Police have since intensified inquiries aimed at establishing the route the weapon took and identifying any individuals who may have assisted in hiding or transporting it across district boundaries.