South Sudanese Refugee Arrested in Uganda for Illegal Possession of Firearms

Koboko District | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Last week, police in Uganda’s Koboko District, located in the West Nile Region, arrested two individuals on charges related to the illegal possession of firearms. The arrested parties included a male South Sudanese refugee identified as Chandiga Francis, and Zubeda Gisima, a prominent businesswoman in Koboko town. The arrests were made during an intelligence-led operation conducted in Nyelwa village, Midia sub-county, involving police officers, the Internal Security Organization’s officer in charge of Midia Sub County, and local council leaders.

“On the 25th of October, 2023, at 10 a.m., an intelligence-led operation was executed in Nyelwa village in Midia sub-county in Koboko District. This operation was a collaborative effort, involving a joint team of police officers, the GISO of Midia Sub-county in Koboko, and local LCs, leading to the successful recovery of a firearm with ammunition,” said West Nile Region Police Spokesperson, Josephine Angucia on Thursday.

The operation began by securing the premises of Zubeda Gisima, a 30-year-old Kakwa businesswoman and resident of Nyelwa village, Midia sub-county, Koboko District, where the suspected firearm with ammunition was believed to be located. During the search, various items were uncovered, including a pistol without a magazine, seventy-eight live SMG Rifle ammunition, a green plastic army bottle, and six MTN SIM cards.

Furthermore, a thorough search was conducted within the premises, particularly focusing on a rental room previously occupied by an individual known only as Ivan. Ivan had rented the room for two weeks before disappearing to an undisclosed location. As a result, Zubeda Gisima, the landlady associated with the suspect Ivan, and Chandiga Francis, a South Sudanese refugee who facilitated Ivan’s room rental arrangement, were apprehended by the police to assist in ongoing investigations.

The suspects, along with the recovered items, are currently at Koboko Central Police Station, where investigations into the matter are ongoing. This incident is not the first time that police in Koboko District have recovered illegal firearms within the past six months; in April, they recovered two illegal guns and arrested two men suspected of terrorizing residents.