Police Dog Tracks Stolen Coffee Berries to Suspect’s Home in Iganga

Police Dog Tracks Stolen Coffee Berries to Suspect’s Home in Iganga

Police in Iganga District have recovered sacks of stolen fresh coffee berries after a sniffer dog tracked the scent from the scene of the theft to a suspect’s home about 800 metres away.

The theft occurred on the night of August 10 when unknown people allegedly broke into the coffee garden of Moses Lwukyaza, a resident of Walugoma Village, Nawanyingi Sub-county, and harvested his coffee berries.

Lwukyaza reported the theft to Bunyiro Police Station the following morning, prompting police to launch investigations.

A joint team of detectives, uniformed officers and the Iganga Police K9 Unit visited the scene. The sniffer dog picked up a scent from the coffee garden and followed the trail through the plantation and Walugoma Trading Centre before leading investigators to the home of a man identified only as Adam in the same village.

At the house, the dog indicated on several sacks of fresh coffee berries at the doorway. Police also recovered an additional half sack hidden under a bed inside the house.

The suspect reportedly fled upon seeing the police team, and efforts to arrest him are ongoing with the support of the local LC1 chairperson and community members.

Lwukyaza positively identified the recovered coffee as his property. The exhibits were taken to Bunyiro Police Station for safe custody as investigations continue.

Residents say coffee theft is rampant in the area and have also raised concern over the harvesting of unripe coffee berries.

They said the practice affects the quality of coffee entering the market and could contribute to lower prices for farmers as buyers encounter increasing quantities of poor-quality coffee.

“The bad thing is that they harvest coffee which is not ready,” one resident said.

Busoga East Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha commended the K9 Unit for its professionalism and thanked the LC1 chairperson and residents of Walugoma for their cooperation.

“The hunt is still on, and we thank the locals for cooperating with us always through reporting culprits,” Kasadha said.

Police say efforts to apprehend the suspect are continuing as investigations into the theft proceed.