The growing wave of coffee theft that has alarmed farmers across Uganda has taken another significant turn after police in Mityana District arrested seven suspects linked to a network allegedly responsible for stealing coffee from farms and homes before selling it to local buyers.
The arrests come amid increasing reports of coffee theft during the recent harvesting season, with police saying incidents have surged between May and July 2026.
The crime has become a major concern in several coffee-growing districts, where farmers are losing valuable harvests to organized groups targeting mature coffee cherries and stored produce.
In Mityana District, Bulera Sub-county has emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas.
Investigations began following the theft of coffee from the home of 62-year-old John Ssemugomba, a resident of Kiwujja Village, Buyambi LC I, Nalumbugu Parish in Bulera Sub-county. The theft occurred on July 1, 2026, and was reported to Bulera Police Station the following day, prompting detectives to launch investigations.
Police intelligence led to the arrest of Bernard Lubowa, 30, of Kiwujja Village, and Edward Kizito, 28, of Kibogo Village. During the operation, officers recovered suspected stolen coffee from Kizito’s residence.
Although both suspects initially denied involvement while in custody at Bulera Police Station, the case was later transferred to Mityana Central Police Station, where detectives from the Wamala Regional Flying Squad Unit joined the investigations.
According to police, Kizito later confessed to participating in a series of coffee thefts across Bulera Sub-county with several accomplices.
He allegedly identified Edwin Kibirige and another suspect known as Mukajanga as members of the group, claiming the stolen coffee was sold to Vincent Malunda, Aidah Nakigozi and Bashir, all residents of Kibogo Village.
Investigators also say Lubowa admitted participating in coffee thefts alongside Joseph Niyongabo and disclosed that some of the stolen coffee was sold to Abdul Ssemakula, a resident of Nalumbugu LC I.
Acting on the information obtained during the investigations, officers from the Wamala Regional Flying Squad conducted a targeted operation in Bulera Sub-county on July 9, arresting five additional suspects believed to be part of the network. Those arrested included Abdul Ssemakula, Vincent Malunda, Stephen Kakooza, Aidah Nakigozi and Edwin Kibirige.
Lameck Kigozi the Wamala Region police spokesperson, said the case file involving all seven suspects was completed and submitted to the Resident State Attorney in Mityana, who sanctioned criminal charges against them.
Meanwhile, investigations remain ongoing as security agencies continue pursuing other suspects who are still at large.
Detectives believe dismantling the entire network is critical to curbing the escalating theft of coffee, which has increasingly become one of the most profitable forms of agricultural crime in the region.
The latest arrests underscore growing concerns over the illegal trade in stolen coffee, a vice that has intensified as coffee prices remain attractive on both domestic and international markets. Farmers have repeatedly complained that thieves often strike at night, harvesting coffee directly from plantations or stealing produce stored in homes awaiting sale, leaving households with significant financial losses.
Police have warned individuals involved in stealing, buying or trading in suspected stolen coffee that intensified intelligence-led operations will continue across Mityana District and the wider Wamala Region.
Security agencies say they are determined to dismantle criminal networks targeting coffee farmers and have urged communities to report suspicious activities that may help investigators recover stolen produce and bring offenders to justice.
Kigozi said security agencies have concentrated substantial effort on combating coffee theft and appealed to those involved in the illegal trade to abandon the practice before they are arrested and prosecuted.
