A routine intelligence tip about a man allegedly carrying a pistol along Mawanda Road has led police to the discovery of ammunition, military-style gear and a cache of spent cartridges in Kampala’s Kawempe Division, raising fresh questions about the origin and intended use of the recovered items.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Prosper Turinawe, was arrested by Kampala Metropolitan Police following an operation launched after reports emerged of a suspicious individual allegedly armed with a firearm in the area.
According to police, investigators traced Turinawe, a driver attached to a private security company and a resident of Kyebando Central, to a lodge where he had reportedly been staying. However, by the time officers arrived, he had slipped away, triggering a hunt that ended in the early hours of June 21.
Police intercepted the suspect at around 6am and allegedly found him in possession of 13 rounds of ammunition. The arrest opened the door to a broader investigation that soon led detectives to his residence in Kyebando Central.
What officers uncovered there deepened the mystery.
During a search of the premises, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire reported that police recovered about 40 spent cartridges of different calibres, black military-style boots, uniforms belonging to a private security company and other uniforms from various organisations.
The items were seized and exhibited as evidence as investigators sought to determine how they came into the suspect’s possession.
Authorities have since charged Turinawe with possession of government stores and are holding him in police custody pending further investigations.
Police believe the premises may have been used to store the recovered items and are now focusing on tracing their source. Investigators are also searching for a firearm believed to be linked to the case but which remains unaccounted for.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to crack down on the illegal possession of ammunition, military equipment and other restricted government property within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Turinawe is expected to be produced in court once investigations are complete, while detectives continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the recovered exhibits and whether other individuals may have been involved.
