Police has recovered more cars in an ongoing crackdown on car thefts in Mukono and neighbouring districts.
Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, said that they carried out an intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of two prime suspects, who form part of the criminal racket actively involved in the theft and robbery of motor vehicles from parking lots, streets, functions like funerals and parties, places of worship, bars, and clubs.
Enanga explained that the task team started its operations on Friday from Nkonge in Mukono, following the robbery of motor vehicle registration number UAP 778G, which led to the arrest of Nsubuga Mukwaya Hassan, from Wobulenzi.
“Mukwaya led the task team to the arrest of Musisi Alex, alias Mark Butyampa, of Bulijjo village, Kiyunga Parish, Kyampisi sub-county in Mukono district. The suspected stolen motor vehicle was recovered from Wobulenzi with a forged number plate UAM933G after the original number plate was removed,” said Enanga.
He added, “It was further established that a criminal gang was behind most of the vehicle thefts and robberies in Kampala, Mukono, Luwero, and other parts of the country. They would change the original plates with cloned number plates and sell the stolen cars to Kisule Juma alias Jajja Mbale alias Muwada Juma alias Walusimbi Juma alias Wambedde.”
Enanga further stated that the operation was expanded to Mbale with the help of the two suspects and led to the recovery of 16 motor vehicles in total that are suspected stolen from different parts of the country.
The recovered vehicles include; Toyota Noah formerly with registration number UAP 778G, changed to UAM933G, Toyota Spacio – UAX 578M, RAV 4 – UAJ635G, Subaru UAG 242Z, Premio – UAU 911C, Premio – UAQ 742D, Noah – UAR 509K, Ipsum – UAN 794Z, Isuzu Tipper 2 ton – UBA 784U, Toyota Passo – UBG 044G, Premio – UAU 406A, Ipsum – UAP 772D, Ipsum – UAP 735B, Premio – UAT 287H, Toyota Starlet – UAN 223Y, Toyota Regius – UAN 706R, and Toyota Pickup – UAH 436J.
“We call upon people whose motor vehicles were stolen and fall into the above categories to come and view them at the Directorate of Crime Intelligence in Bukoto.
The task team is arranging to submit the engine numbers, chassis numbers, and recovered number plates to URA for further verification and details of ownership,” he said.