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Suspect escapes from shs470m coffee cuff at court

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Suspect escapes from shs470m coffee cuff at court
Police say Juma Musisi is currently on the run after escaping from custody.

The suspect escaped from Nabweru Chief Magistrates Court where he had been charged with stealing coffee worth shs470million from a vehicle in transit.

Police in Kampala are hunting for a suspect  accused of stealing coffee worth shs470 million who escaped from custody while at court.

The incident according to Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, happened at the Nabweru Chief Magistrates Court in Kawempe Division when a suspect escaped.

“Juma Musisi, alias Young Mandela, alias Masappe escaped from lawful custody at court having been earlier charged with three others for stealing coffee in transit worth shs470 million,” Onyango said.

The escape

In a robbery that happened on November, 29,2024, 21,600 kilograms of coffee beans valued at shs470 million that were being transported from Kasese to a depot in Nakawa for export was intercepted.

The truck registration number UBE 355V that was carrying the coffee was diverted from its route from Kawempe and the coffee was later loaded onto other trucks , registration number plates UAY 827Q and UBG 973L which later transported it Luzira for sale.

However, the coffee was later rejected and was collected by the purported seller Juma Musisi Alias Young Mandela alias Masape in other vehicles, registration number plates UBD 151S and UAM 076N.

Meanwhile, police were alerted of this heist and led to the arrest of Musisi who was the mastermind of the plan, Kenneth Muswabi, 35, Medi Kalule, 42 and Martin Mugabi, 27.

Kampala Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said on Monday that having been charged over stealing goods in transit in the Nabweru Chief Magistrates court, Musisi was also wanted over a similar case of stealing coffee in transit in the Mukono court.

“While at court, Musisi escaped from lawful custody as he was being prepared to be taken to appear in Mukono court. He took advantage of his bail forms being processed and he escaped. The hunt for him is on,” Onyango said.

The Kampala Police spokesperson said they are also still hunting for other suspects including Saidi Kalule, akas Bogere and Joab Mucunguzi to answer charges related to the shs470m coffee theft.

The incident comes on the backdrop of an increase in the theft of coffee, especially that in transit.

For example, earlier this year, four suspects including a police officer were arrested over theft of 21,600 kilograms of coffee beans, owned by Export Trading Company.

Detective ASP Ali Katende attached to Katwe Police Station was allegedly part of a group that diverted the coffee from its original route on the Kampala-Jinja highway to Kyetume along the Mukono-Katosi Road.

“The truck, with registration number KCD 177N/ZF 4760, was diverted, and the coffee was offloaded onto another truck, registration number UAK 416C, which fled the scene,” police said.

 

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