Two suspects from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, have been apprehended on charges of possessing illegal firearms.
The suspects currently under custody at the Kisoro police station include; Sadiki Gashendure, 29, a local from Bunagana village,Karambo chiefdom situated in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu province in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Silvani Uwirangiye, 32, a resident of Gatete village, Rwaramba parish, Nyakinama sub county, in Kisoro district, .
They were detained following an incident on August 12, 2023, around 9:00 PM, during which they were discovered with firearms.
According to sources at the Kisoro police station,they received a tip-off alerting security personnel to Gashendure’s movement from Congo into Uganda via the Bunyangaro Nyabwishenya sub county. It was alleged that Gashendure was carrying firearms.
In response, a combined effort involving police officers and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers ensued, leading to Gashendure’s arrest near Stanbic bank in Kisoro town. Upon inspection, he was found to be in possession of two hand grenades.
Gashendure revealed that to law enforcement officers to his accomplice, Uwiragiye and a subsequent search of the area revealed a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) rifle with the serial number 56×20019268, along with 64 rounds of live ammunition, concealed within a banana plantation.
Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, confirmed the apprehension, stating that the authorities are actively questioning the two suspects to ascertain the origin of the firearms, ascertain their intentions, and determine whether there are additional associates involved.