Police have arrested about 12 suspects behind the alleged theft of motor vehicles within Kampala.
SCP Enanga Fred, the police spokesperson, said the suspected criminal gang had specialized in the theft of motor vehicles from parking yards within Kitimba in Kasangati, Mukono, and Wakiso.
According to Enanga, the Directorate of Crime Intelligence, in coordination with territorial units from Kyankwanzi and Greater Kampala, carried out an intelligence-led operation and cracked down on the criminal gang.
He said that the suspected stolen vehicles and motorcycles are often driven to various isolated parking yards in the Greater Kampala area, where they are sold cheaply to individual buyers and car dealers.
Other vehicles, such as canters and tippers, were dismantled by the gang and sold as spares.
“So far, 12 suspects, including 8 prime suspects, 2 buyers of stolen motor vehicles from Mukono and Kalerwe, and 2 car park owners and dealers from Mukono, are in custody. Their arrest led to the successful recovery of six suspected stolen motor vehicles and one motor cycle,” he said.
Enanga explained that the operation started in Kyankwanzi district following the theft of five motor vehicles and two motorcycles (boda-bodas) from the sub-counties of Ntwetwe, Nkandwa, Kiryanongo, and Byerima in the months of November and December 2022.
The stolen motor vehicles included three Canters with registration numbers UBF 478H, UBF 744Y, and UAY 186T, an 01 Pickup Sahara with registration number UAL 201H, a Premio with registration number UBE 524Q, and two other motorcycles with Bajaj Boxer registration numbers UFP 344Q and UFP 598H.
Police confirmed that a total of six motor vehicles have been recovered and are currently parked at Kyankwanzi and Wakiso Police Headquarters.
“All the engine, chassis, and recovered number plates have been submitted to URA for further verification and details of ownership,” Enanga said.
Police urge drivers and owners to take the simple steps of hardening their parking spots and car lock systems to guard against such thefts.
