Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a pre-dawn burglary at the Arua residence of former minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru, Police confirmed on Friday.
The incident occurred at around 3:50am on Friday at her home in Arua Hill Cell, Central Division, within the city’s central business district.
According to police reports, community members raised the alarm after observing suspicious activity at the property.
A rapid response team comprising officers from the Operations Department, the Security Supervisor, and the CID K9 unit was immediately dispatched to the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the burglars scaled the perimeter wall and targeted the boys’ quarters, where the minister’s driver, Kassim Tusiime, had been resting.
Tusiime had returned from Kampala at about 11:30pm but failed to lock the metallic door to his room. He awoke around 3:30am to find the door open and several personal items missing.
Among the stolen items were a Samsung J7 Pro phone valued at Shs900,000, a pair of jeans, Shs80,000 in cash, a national ID, bank cards, and several important documents.
Asea Collins, the Regional Police Spokesperson for the West Nile sub-region, confirmed the arrests and credited the K9 unit for successfully tracing the suspects’ scent trail to nearby homes.
Some of the missing documents were recovered during the operation.
“The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. A full search and scene analysis will be carried out by our Scene of Crime Officers,” Asea stated.
The identities of the suspects have not yet been disclosed, and police say they are pursuing additional leads.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to rising urban crime in Arua and underscores the importance of community vigilance and prompt police action in curbing such cases.