Police in Old Kampala have recovered an AK-47 rifle at Tausi Bus Terminal in Bukesa Parish, Kampala Central Division, after a man attempted to smuggle it onto a bus bound for Mbarara.
The incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, during routine preparations at the busy terminal.
According to police, the unidentified suspect approached a conductor who was loading luggage onto a Mbarara-bound bus and asked him to place his bag on the vehicle alongside other passengers’ luggage.
Suspicion arose when the conductor requested to inspect the bag as part of standard procedure, but the man reportedly refused. The conductor proceeded to check the luggage anyway and discovered what appeared to be a firearm concealed inside.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala confirmed that the conductor immediately alerted authorities, prompting a swift police response.
“When the conductor asked to inspect the bag as per routine procedure, the man refused. Upon checking anyway, the conductor discovered what appeared to be a firearm and immediately alerted the police,” Kawala said in a statement.
A rapid response team arrived at the scene and recovered an AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine and no ammunition. The weapon had been wrapped in a white polythene bag and then concealed inside a larger local bag, commonly known as a “usofia.”
By the time police arrived, the suspect had fled and remains at large.
Kawala said investigations are ongoing to identify the suspect and establish how and why the firearm was being transported through a public bus terminal.
“We have launched investigations to identify the suspect and establish the circumstances under which the firearm was being transported,” she added.
Police believe the vigilance of the conductor may have prevented a potential security threat.
The suspect remains on the run.
