Police recover stolen firearm in Kisoro, arrest notorious criminal

20 April 2025, 15:26

By Uziah Tusaasire

Police in Kisoro, in a joint operation with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), have recovered a firearm that was stolen from a security guard earlier this month and arrested a suspect believed to be behind the theft.

The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Hakizimana, also known as Zulunguriye Black, was intercepted on 20 April 2025, at around 10:20 p.m. in Kashaija village, Kashaija ward, Rubuguri town council, while in illegal possession of an SAR rifle, serial number 564 210028-15120.

According to Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson Elly Maate, investigations revealed that the recovered firearm had been stolen on 10 April 2025, from security guard Osbert Byonanebye, who was employed by Ruhama Veterans Security Company and was on duty at Pearl Hotel, Kigongi cell, central division, Kabale municipality.

The weapon originally contained two rounds of ammunition, but only one round was found during the recovery.

Maate further revealed that Hakizimana is a notorious repeat offender:

In 2021, he was released from Ndorwa Prison in Kabale after serving time for robbery charges.

In 2022, he broke into Mutanda Lake Hotel in Kisoro and stole valuables from tourists, including cash, cameras, and a phone.

In March 2024, he was implicated in the theft of police attire belonging to D/C Tumuramye Roddny from Kisoro Police Barracks (CRB 321/2024). He was arrested wearing the stolen clothes, taken to court, convicted, and fined UGX 250,000, which he paid and was subsequently released.

Hakizimana is currently in custody and is set to be transferred to the UPDF 2nd Division Headquarters in Mbarara for further management and prosecution.