Police apprehends two with stolen motor vehicle number plates within Kigezi.
KABALE: Police in the Kigezi Sub-region have apprehended two suspects linked to a string of motor vehicle number plate thefts.
Anthony Arinaitwe 18 a resident of Mukyirwa Kyangara in Ntungamo municipality, and Brian Mugisa 19 also a resident of Ryangushya cell, Western division, Ntungamo municipality, were arrested on July 23, 2024.
The two were arrest following a targeted intelligence-led operation across the districts of Kabale, Rukungiri, and Rukiga.
According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi region Police spokesperson, the suspects have been involved in the theft of motor vehicle number plates since June 13, 2024.
Their criminal activities began in Rukungiri, where they stole plates from several vehicles, including: UAU 539Y from Kenneth Turyazayo at Butagasa cellUBF 927C from Asaph Byamugisha at Bwoma cellUBQ 452P from Benon Arinaitwe at Kiyaga cell, UAK 766H from Twongyeirwe Eriabu at Kiyaga cell UBK 512Z from Agaba Moses at Nyabikoni UAW 886D from Alison Byaruhanga at Kijuguta UEP 665T from Gerald Nyombi at Mwanjari.
Other recovered Number Plates include; UBK 855M from Anyongyire Angela at Central cellUBP 749J from Charles Mwesigwa at Kaharo UAY 381M from Reuben Kuvikayo at Kaharo UAG 914L from Ezra Bikangiso at KijugutaUBA 799R from Rogers Manzi at Kijuguta UBP 866J from Andrew Mbonye at Kijuguta.
In Rukiga district, police recovered nine number plates that had not yet been reported including one vehicles on UAX 426W from Hussein Nuwagaba at Bukinda, UAR 845X from Vianny Kombozi at Bukinda UAY 770Q from Gilbert at Nyakanengo UBJ 404T from Vianny Kombozi at Bukinda UAK 994G from Julius Kamwesiga at Bukinda
Other recovered Number plates in Rukiga include; UAP 596G from Bosco Muhwezi at Bukinda UAP 379K from Tabaro Izidoro at Bukinda, UAN 031D from Tabaro Izidoro at Bukinda, UBE 998C from Rubarema Dezi at Kakatunda.
Maate revealed that in addition to the stolen number plates, the suspects were found with SIM cards and new leaflets with phone numbers used to extort ransoms from vehicle owners, demanding between 50,000 to 100,000 UGX for the return of their plates.
In some instances, the suspects accepted the payment but failed to disclose the location of the stolen plates.
Maate added that most of the stolen number plates have been returned to their rightful owners with the suspects likely to face legal proceedings upon completion of police investigations.
He also issued a warning to the youth to steer clear of such illegal activities, emphasizing the consequences of engaging in such crimes.
