Three More Arrested in String of Regional Car Thefts

Police in the Rwizi region has arrested three more vehicle thieves to break the Racket of Motor Vehicle Thefts committed across the Regions of Kigezi, Greater Bushenyi and Rwizi.

Ezekiel Emitu the Rwizi Region Police Commander identified the two as Christopher Nsubuga, 39, a resident of Kisenyi cell Mbarara City Joseph Sebunya, 33 years, a resident of Mbirizi Town Council and Rashid Jumba a resident of Lwengo district.

Emitu says the three were arrested after interrogating the two other suspects that were arrested last weekend who included Joseph Mukiibi and Issa Matovu all residents of Kampala.

Emitu says the two were intercepted by police in the early hours of Saturday morning along the Mbarara Northern bypass in Mbarara City with two stolen motor vehicles one registration number UAX 260G FUSO Fighter that was stolen from Nyarushanje Ngarama cell Rukungiri District and registration number UAR 611R Toyota Townace.

He says through the intelligence-led information and CCTV cameras the Fuso Fighter was tracked from Rukungiri and later intercepted in Mbarara City headed to Greater Masaka Region but during the pursuit of the assailants, one of their cars got involved in an accident injuring the occupant Issa Matovu. Mukiibi, who was driving the Fuso, was attacked by a mob, as he tried to flee the scene which beat and left him with injuries he later died at Mbarara Regional Hospital.

Emitu says Mukiibi was yesterday handed over to his relatives for burial while the other four will be taken to court and charged with possession of the suspected stolen property. 

Emitu says these are part of a big racket of thugs that steal motor vehicles and move them across East Africa including the recently recovered motor vehicle a FUSO from Tanzania. 

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Samson Kasasira the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson says Police have recorded five motor vehicles reported missing in similar circumstances which include UBF 835X Isuzu Forward white in colour, UAY122Q Forward white in colour and UBF995C Forward and UAX997W Fuso white in colour all stolen from the districts of Mbarara, Bushenyi, Rukungiri Kabale and Mbarara city between May and June this year.

Kasasira says the thugs take vehicles from night car parks, home compounds and others trail owners using motorcycles.

Deus Byamugisha one of the victims who lost his car says he woke up to a missing vehicle he had parked in his compound in the evening. At least five to seven vehicles are being stolen every week in Riwizi, Kigezi and Greater Bushenyi Regional Police.