KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Police at Old Kampala Division on Wednesday arrested three suspects and recovered over 15 suspected stolen cars in an operation against criminality conducted in Rubaga Division, A Kampala urban suburb.
The intelligence-led operation was conducted in Kayanja triangle area, specifically at Luwangula Auto Garage, which is known for its involvement in altering car serial numbers, engine numbers and colours.
The three suspects who include 32-year-old Lawrence Luwaga, the owner of the Garage Nauru Sadi, a 45-year-old Congolese national and mandated refugee residing in Kabowa, Rubaga South Division, and Patrick Kasereka, a 38-year-old Congolese national, an asylum seeker, and resident of Rubaga South are now in custody at Old Kampala police station awaiting charges of theft.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, SSP Patrick Onyango, Luwaga, a resident of Nansana was found in possession of over 15 cars, 4 of which lacked authentic documents.
“Investigations revealed that the suspected vehicles, including a Nissan Patrol, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Toyota Harrier, had different colors, altered serial numbers, modified engine numbers, and all bore Congo number plates compared to the information on their documents,” SP Onyango said.
Onyango further noted that the mechanic at Luwangula Auto Garage which is located near Monalisa Bar in Rubaga Division, Kampala District had changed the original white color of the seized cars to various other colors.
“The vehicles, along with their corresponding documents, were confiscated and towed to Old Kampala Police Station for further examination.”
“The police confiscated the vehicles and their corresponding documents and towed them to Old Kampala Police Station for further examination,” he added.
Police’s annual crime report indicates that about 880 cases of stolen motor vehicles were reported to police in 2020 as compared to 1,147 cases registered in 2019, according to the annual crime police report for the said year.
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