Police is holding two of its officers over allegations of stealing a gun inside a police Armory. The arrested officers have been identified as IP Iwolit Bismas the officer incharge of the post and Police Constable Ongyero the Armoury incharge all attached to Ayivu West Division in Gulu District. The stolen weapon, registered as UG POL 56118148911-10181 and accompanied by 30 rounds of ammunition, was discovered missing on the morning of September 24, 2025.
According to the police report, the incident likely occurred between August 4, 2025, when the gun was last signed for, and the night of September 23, 2025. On the night of the alleged theft, PC Ongyero and D/Cpl Ivan Ochobe were assigned to a night duty outside the post, leaving the armoury room locked.
The next morning, Sgt. Nyero Moris noticed the door ajar and quickly alerted the officer in charge of the post, IP Iwolit Bismas. Upon inspection, it became clear that the AK-47 was no longer in its chest, prompting the station to escalate the matter immediately to the Division Police Commander.
A comprehensive investigation was launched, involving officers from the Division and Regional headquarters, including general duties, SOCO, canine units, CID, and CI. The crime scene was examined thoroughly, but investigators found no evidence of forced entry into the armoury. This raises suspicions about whether the theft could have involved someone with internal access, as the armoury is located within the same building where officers reside, with PC Ongyero living inside the armoury room itself.
Records show that the stolen rifle had been used last on August 4 and returned to the armoury on August 20. Since then, there was no record of the weapon being signed out again, leaving its accountability unclear. The station maintains a total of six firearms, and only three were stored in the arm chest, including the missing rifle. The other two remained safely inside.
Both PC Ongyero, the armoury in-charge, and IP Iwolit Bismas, the officer in charge of the post, were taken into custody to assist with the ongoing investigation. Police continue to gather information, and inquiries are ongoing to determine how the weapon disappeared and whether the theft was an inside job or the work of an unseen intruder. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious concerns about security measures at police facilities.
