The Directorate of Crime Intelligence in coordination with Crime Intelligence Mukono and the Territorial Police in Mbale, has carried out an intelligence led operation, that has 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.
The task team started its operations on the 5.07.2022, from Nkonge in Mukono, following the robbery of motor vehicle registration number UAP 778G, that led to the arrest of Nsubuga Mukwaya Hassan, from Wobulenzi. He 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.
It was further established that criminal gang was behind motor 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 ( a process they call baptizing) and sell the stolen cars to Kisule Juma alias Jajja Mbale alias Muwada Juma alias Walusimbi Juma alias Wambedde.
Th operation was expanded to Mbale with the help of the two suspects and led to the recovery of 16 motor vehicle 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 persons whose motor vehicles were stolen and fall in 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.
The arrest of the two prime suspects demonstrates our resolve and commitment to fight motor vehicle theft and robberies in the country. A serious manhunt for the other accomplices is still ongoing. We want to thank our task teams from Crime Intelligence for a job well done and also thank all persons who volunteered information about the criminal gang. We urge them to continue working with security agencies in, disrupting and dismantling such kinds of criminal gangs in their communities.
As we conclude, we wish to send a very serious warning to proprietors to garages, actively involved in the buying of number plates of accident vehicles that are written off or number plates from car-shop dealers, and sell them to criminal gangs, behind motor vehicle thefts at a cost of Ugx 400.000 or more. Their actions are facilitating the theft and robberies of motor vehicles. Therefore, any culprits arrested will be charged with related conspiracies. We urge those who still have the registration number plates in their possession to hand them over to URA.
SCP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
8th August 2022
