Justine Akena
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Police have arrested a private security guard attached to Magnum Security Company in connection with the theft of cash and gold from Goldex Uganda Limited offices on Mawanda Road in Kampala.
The suspect, Akena Justine, was picked up on the night of April 15 from Gaspa Village in Bweyale Town Council, ending a days-long manhunt that had stretched from Kampala to northern Uganda.
According to Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, the theft happened on April 10 while Akena was deployed at the Goldex premises.
“We wish to confirm the arrest of Akena Justine, a private security guard attached to Magnum Security Company, in connection with a theft that occurred on 10th April 2026,” Owoyesigyire said.
Police say Akena allegedly stole a bag containing Shs 29 million and 900 grammes of gold worth about Shs500 million from a motor vehicle belonging to Katuramu Maggie.
Investigators believe he took advantage of his position as the guard on duty, accessed the vehicle, took the valuables, locked up the premises and vanished without a trace. Earlier reports showed detectives had retrieved CCTV footage and tracked his phone signals towards the north, where he is believed to have been hiding.
The breakthrough came after intelligence officers traced him to a retail shop he had reportedly opened using part of the stolen money.
“Upon interrogation, he admitted to committing the offence. Preliminary findings indicate that he had used part of the stolen money to open a retail shop, from where he was apprehended,” Owoyesigyire added.
His arrest closes a dramatic case that had sparked concern over insider theft in Kampala’s high-value gold trade, with many questioning how such a huge amount of cash and gold was left in a vehicle overnight.
Akena is now detained at Mawanda Road Police Station as detectives finalize investigations ahead of prosecution.
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