Police in Mbarara City South Division have arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged theft of coffee produce, following a successful operation involving the Police K-9 Unit.
The suspect, identified as Asiimwe Darias, a resident of Kitaba Cell, Kicwamba Village in Nyakayojo Sub-county, is currently being held by police as investigations continue.
According to police, the incident was reported on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after a resident discovered that coffee from his garden had been harvested and stolen during the night. The complainant had gone to harvest the crop at around 8:00 a.m. when he noticed that unknown individuals had already picked and taken away the coffee.
The matter was immediately reported to Ruti Police Station, and the complainant requested assistance from the Police K-9 Unit to aid investigations.
A team of investigators, accompanied by the K-9 unit, promptly visited the scene. Police sniffer dog T/P 261 PILOT was introduced to the well-preserved crime scene and successfully picked up a human scent trail.
According to Uganda Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma, the dog tracked the scent for approximately 900 metres, leading officers directly to the residence of Asiimwe Darias.
“A search was conducted at the suspect’s residence, where exhibits of freshly harvested coffee were recovered. The suspect was taken into police custody to assist with ongoing investigations,” Kituuma said.
He added that further inquiries into the matter are ongoing as police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.
