crime 16 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Arua Police Nab Woman with 100kg Marijuana Bound for Kampala
Authorities in Arua City arrested 31-year-old Rose Ederu after discovering over 100 kilograms of marijuana in her possession, intended for transport to Kampala via bus. The interception followed a tip-off at a bus terminal, highlighting ongoing drug trafficking issues in the region. Source: https://observer.ug/news/woman-arrested-with-over-100kgs-of-marijuana-in-arua
Police in Arua City detained a 31-year-old local woman, Rose Ederu from Asuru cell in Tanganyika ward, Ayivu division, over the weekend. She was caught with two boxes containing approximately 100 kilograms of marijuana during a routine check at the Baby Coach Bus company terminal.
West Nile regional police spokesperson Josephine Angucia confirmed the arrest stemmed from a tip-off by bus management. Ederu planned to transport the drugs to Kampala. She remains in custody as investigations proceed.
Angucia urged the public and leaders to report suspicious activities to combat drug trafficking, linking it to increased crime rates among users.
Local leader Ivan Sukuru, LC I chairperson of Upper Bibia cell in Pagisa ward, noted the prevalence of drug dealing in Arua, blaming weak laws and calling for stricter government measures.
This incident echoes past seizures, like the 189 kilograms destroyed in 2018 from bus terminals. Marijuana is commonly grown in Arua’s Logiri, Vurra, and Arivu sub-counties, often smuggled to DR Congo.
Under the 2024 Narcotic Drugs Act, possession carries penalties of fines up to 50,000 currency points, three times the drug’s value, up to 20 years imprisonment, or both.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)