What you need to know:
- Following the discovery, law enforcement officers impounded the substances, documented the scene, and placed Mr Eguma under detention at the Arua Central Business Division Police Station.
Police in Arua City have arrested a man who was allegedly found in unlawful possession of over 1,000 rolls of suspected marijuana at the Link Bus Terminal in the Central Business Division.
In a police statement issued on Friday evening, security authorities identified the suspect as Godfrey Eguma. He was intercepted on Thursday morning during a routine security inspection at the terminal as he reportedly prepared to board a bus to Masindi District.
Confirming the arrest, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms Josephine Angucia, stated that the suspect was caught during general checks carried out by officers deployed at the bus facility.
"The territorial Police in Arua City Central Business Division arrested one male adult suspect Eguma Godfrey for unlawful possession of rolls of narcotic drugs at Link Bus Terminal in Arua City on Thursday 22nd October 2026 at around 8:30 am," Ms Angucia said. "Officers for general checking at Link Bus Terminal intercepted the suspect while planning to travel to Masindi District."
Ms Angucia added that a thorough search of the suspect's luggage led to the recovery of a massive stash of illicit substances.
"Upon search of his luggage, over 1,000 blunts suspected marijuana were recovered," she explained. "Upon interrogation, the suspect allegedly claimed that the narcotics were intended for sale to workers at Kinyara sugar plantation."
Following the discovery, law enforcement officers impounded the substances, documented the scene, and placed Mr Eguma under detention at the Arua Central Business Division Police Station.
"Police acted by arresting and detaining the suspect at Arua CBD Police Station, they recovered exhibits, photographed and documented them, and recorded relevant statements from witnesses," Ms Angucia noted. "Effort to trace for the source and supplier of the narcotics is going on."
She added that Mr Eguma remains in custody pending the conclusion of inquiries, after which he will be arraigned in court to face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
"The suspect is in custody pending further investigations, after which he will be charged in court to answer the offence of unlawful possession of marijuana," Ms Angucia said. "We commend the public for providing intelligence information that led to the arrest of the suspect with exhibits, and we appeal for continued cooperation in the fight against narcotic crimes."
The arrest comes against the backdrop of changing national crime figures. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, authorities registered a total of 1,569 cases involving narcotics and psychotropic substances nationwide in 2025. This marked a 30 percent reduction compared to the 2,240 drug cases recorded in 2024, alongside a broader 10.2 percent drop in overall national crime.
Despite the statistical decline, police authorities have repeatedly warned that the infiltration of narcotics into communities, homes, and schools remains a critical threat to the country's youth.