Police in northern Uganda have arrested a local council chairman accused of stealing maize from a plantation owned by police officers.
The 53-year-old leader of Ireda Cell in Lira City East Division was detained on Tuesday after a police sniffer dog allegedly tracked footprints from the plantation to his home, according to North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema.
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The arrest follows a series of thefts from the police gardens at Ireda Estates. SP Okema told reporters that on 12 August, officers discovered fresh footprints in the field and deployed a police canine, which led them directly to the chairman’s residence.
He allegedly tried to escape but was caught and taken to Ireda Shamba Police Station for questioning.
A search of his home, carried out in the presence of neighbours, reportedly uncovered fresh maize hidden with dry cobs, along with items believed to be government property — including an empty ammunition magazine, two pairs of trousers, four shirts, a police belt, army shoes, a sack of mosquito nets marked “Government of Uganda – Not for Sale,” a television set and a container of teargas canisters.
“These items have been exhibited as evidence,” SP Okema said, noting that the chairman faces charges of possession of government stores, theft, and unlawful possession of suspected stolen property. The case will be forwarded to the Resident City State Attorney for review before court proceedings begin.
Police have condemned the alleged conduct and urged communities to elect leaders with integrity. They also appealed to the public to report wrongdoing in their areas.
The suspect’s name has been withheld until he appears in court.
The 2024 annual police crime report listed theft as Uganda’s most common offence, with more than 61,000 cases recorded nationwide last year.
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