Police in Lamwo Recover 4,900 Rounds of Suspected Live Ammunition in Palabek Kal.

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Police in Lamwo Recover 4,900 Rounds of Suspected Live Ammunition in Palabek Kal.

Uganda,Lamwo: Police in Lamwo District have recovered 4,900 rounds of suspected live ammunition from a garden in Palabek Kal Sub-county, renewing warnings about dangerous remnants from the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict in northern Uganda.

The recovery was made on 26 July 2026 at Otong Lawatpura Village, Ayuualali Parish, after residents reported a suspected cache hidden in the area to security teams.

According to police, the operation followed information from a local source who reported that materials suspected to be ammunition were being kept or buried in the area.

Police said the tip was acted on by a joint team that included Lamwo Police, the Scene of Crime Officer and Crime Intelligence personnel.

The team travelled to the suspected location and conducted a search in a garden belonging to Okot Mathew, a 67-year-old resident of Otong Lawatpura village.
During the search, officers recovered seven boxes containing the ammunition, with the total number of rounds given as 4,900.

Police did not immediately specify the calibre of the ammunition, the condition of the boxes, or whether any firearms were recovered. The brief also did not indicate that any person had been arrested in connection with the find by the time the report was issued.

The recovered rounds were placed under safe custody as police awaited the relevant security procedures for handling and transfer. Police said arrangements were being made for the items to be moved in line with established rules for dangerous weapons and explosives.

Lamwo District Police Commander, SP Magombe Reagan, commended the resident who provided the information. He said the timely report helped security teams act before the ammunition could cause harm or be misused. Police described community vigilance as important in reducing crime and in removing dangerous weapons from areas where civilians live and work.

The recovery underlines the continuing security challenges faced by communities in parts of northern Uganda affected by the LRA war. In such areas, residents may still come across old military items in gardens, bushes, abandoned homes, or former hideouts, especially during cultivation, construction, or clearing of land.

SP Magombe urged members of the public not to touch, move, dismantle, sell, or attempt to use any suspicious metallic object, ammunition, or weapon they may come across. Police said residents should instead report such findings immediately to the nearest police station or to other security personnel.

Police said the action taken in Otong Lawatpura Village showed the value of cooperation between civilians and security agencies. A single report from a member of the community was enough to bring police, scene-of-crime personnel and intelligence officers to the location, leading to the recovery of a large quantity of ammunition.

The presence of the Scene of Crime Officer also points to the evidential nature of the operation. Police must document where the items were found, how they were stored, and who may have had access to the site.

The police brief said investigations had started to establish how the ammunition ended up at the location and whether any other dangerous items may still be hidden nearby. It remained unclear whether the landowner knew about the cache or whether it had been buried before the current use of the garden.

The case has been registered at Ngomoromo SCPM Station under SD Ref: 08/26/07/2026. That reference will guide follow-up actions, including documentation, statements from residents, and coordination for safe disposal or storage.

Police appealed to local leaders, households, and land users to remain alert and to share information without delay when they suspect the presence of weapons or explosives.