The task team actively investigating acts of criminality linked to mobile phone and devices, have further established that a total of 885 phones had used sim cards whose phone history is being verified. An additional 748 phones had invalid IMEI, making them illegal and not authorized for usage in our country.
Such phones that are illegal and the continued use of un registered sim cards or swapped sim cards, poses serious threats to our security. It is on record that several suspects, including hardcore repeat offenders, drug dealers and violent offenders use cell phones that do not provide a traceable record.
And yet our country, legislated on sim card registration and unauthorized devices, to help mitigate security concerns, criminal and anti-social behavior. The records above do show that there are still many phones with invalid IMEIs, and those still using unregistered sim cards.
We plan to engage the UCC, from the perception of national security, and carry out joint enforcement programs to block all active, but unregistered sim cards, switch off all unauthorized mobile phones, as part of a massive drive against fake mobile phones, with invalid IMEIs.
As we continue targeting mobile phone influenced crimes, we would like to use this opportunity to remind all sim card holders to ensure they are properly registered with a service provider. And further warn those with unregistered sim cards, that their lines will be deactivated in due course. We call upon all phone users to get their handsets verified and check if it possesses a valid IMEI number, otherwise it will be blocked. One can check IMEI from the device packaging box or from under the battery or by dialing *#06#.
In a related development , out of the 140 suspected stolen motorcycles, 18 motorcycle frames, 20 engines and an assortment of spare parts recovered, details of 125 motorcycles were retrieved based on registration plate particulars. An additional 47 are yet to be retrieved. 5 records of chassis numbers and 1 engine number were also retrieved.
Among the recovered motorcycles, it was established that motorcycle reg. number UEK 687 F, Bajaj boxer, belonged to the police and efforts to retrieve records from the Directorate of Logistics and Engineering in place. A 2nd motorcycle reg.no. UDY 979Y Bajaj Boxer was reported robbed from Peter Ssembuze who was murdered and the motorcycle robbed. The exhibit is being transferred to Kamengo Police for further inquiries. A third motorcycle reg number UDA 363U was found to belong to the National Forest Authority and inquiries surrounding it are in place as well. Two other motorcycles were stolen from Iganga and Bugiri respectively.
So far 24 motorcycles were verified and the details found to be corresponding with the motorcycle profile from URA. They are to be handed over to the rightful claimants.
A total of 19 motorcycles were found to bear chassis and engine numbers that were in conflict with registration number plates, implying they were bearing different number plates.
CP Enanga Fred
Police spokesperson
30th December 2019
