Police in Arua District have arrested two suspected highway robbers accused of attacking a trailer carrying food relief destined for Palorinya Refugee Settlement in Obongi District.
The suspects were identified as Godwin Asara, 18, a resident of Ananjara Village, Ocoko Parish, Ajia Sub-county; and Brian Sabute, 21, a resident of Ocoko Village in the same sub-county.
According to the police report, the incident occurred at around midnight on November 6, 2025, at Kamukamu Trading Centre along the Arua–Nebbi–Kampala highway. The reporter of the incident was Abdul Aziz, 27, a Mugisu by tribe and resident of Kyengera, Kampala, who was driving the trailer loaded with relief food.
It is alleged that as the trailer approached Kamukamu Trading Centre, the driver encountered a group of machete-wielding youths who attempted to block the road. When he refused to stop, the youths allegedly boarded the moving truck and began offloading bags of posho.
“The driver tried to resist, but the attackers threatened to cut him. He immediately alerted police, who responded swiftly as the goons fled into the nearby bushes,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Region Police Spokesperson.
A team of police officers led by the District Police Commander (DPC) Arua–Vurra launched an overnight operation, combing the surrounding bushes from midnight until about 4:30 a.m. Later, at around 6:00 a.m., officers intercepted a Toyota Harrier, registration number UAW 012A, carrying four stolen bags of posho.
“The vehicle had four occupants who abandoned it and fled into the bush. Two suspects were later arrested, and the motorcycle they used was also impounded,” SSP Angucia added.
The suspects are currently detained at Arua Rural Police Station at Odumi, pending further investigations.
Police noted that such robberies are often carried out by opportunistic criminals who take advantage of the poor road conditions along the Nebbi–Arua highway.
“These criminals exploit the pothole-ridden sections of the road to slow down moving trucks and steal goods. However, with the new highway patrol vehicle recently allocated to Arua District, police will intensify operations to keep the highway safe,” SSP Angucia warned.
She further cautioned that anyone found engaging in similar criminal activities will face prosecution in accordance with the law