The police in Uganda’s Lamwo District at the border with South Sudan on Sunday arrested a male South Sudanese national for trying to smuggle 700 rounds of live AKM ammunition concealed in a box of soap to South Sudan.
According to the Uganda Police, three suspects were arrested during the intelligence-led operation, which commenced on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. in Madiopei Town Council.
Police recovered one metallic ammunition box marked “7.62 × 39 mm FMJ/SC”, containing 700 rounds of live ammunition. The box also bears markings including “LOT# 13 20-19” and “SSNF 50 05/19”.
Superintendent of Police Magombe Reagan, the Lamwo District Police Commander (DPC), said the operation followed intelligence that a suspicious South Sudanese national had entered Uganda through the Apiriti Border Post.
“The information was shared with the commander of Bana Bana Battalion of the UPDF and the Officer in Charge of Madiopei Station, who coordinated with other officers to establish a checkpoint at Apiriti Border Post,” he said. “The suspect was identified as Edward Peter, 24, a South Sudanese national and boda boda rider from Tseretenya Village in Eastern Equatoria State’s Ikotos County.”
The police said the suspect claimed that he entered Uganda to purchase a box of soap before proceeding to a garage belonging to a Ugandan called Nokrach David, a resident of Madiopei Town Council.
After collecting the box, Peter reportedly rode towards Apiriti Border Post, where he was intercepted and searched at the checkpoint.
According to the police, a metallic box containing 700 rounds of ammunition was found in the box, concealed with soap on top of it. Peter was immediately arrested and taken back to the garage where he had collected the consignment, leading to the arrest of Nokrach David.
The police said that during initial investigations, Nokrach said the box had been given to him by Kidega Tabu, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) of Madiopei Town Council, for conveyance to a mechanic identified as Lukuli in Ikotos. Police searched for and detained Tabu.
The police added that Lukuli had apparently sent Peter to collect the consignment from Nokrach. Lukuli remains a person of interest, with police saying efforts are ongoing to trace him and establish his alleged involvement in the movement of the ammunition.
A Bajaj motorcycle, registration number SSD 208AP, allegedly used by Peter, was also recovered and secured as an exhibit. The ammunition and motorcycle have been handed over for further investigations.
The case is being investigated by Lamwo Central Police Station under CRB 242/2026, in liaison with the UPDF’s 5th Division Command.
Police said investigations are focused on establishing the source of the ammunition, its intended destination, how it was moved across the Uganda–South Sudan border, and whether other people were involved in the consignment.
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