HOIMA– Four youthful suspects have been remanded to Kiryateete government prison in Hoima City over their alleged involvement in the rampant theft of cars in Bunyoro Sub-region.
Three out of the four suspects on a single file are Julius Byamukama ,25, John Tidyebwa,19, and Bernard Tumusiime. They were charged with two counts of theft of a car and being in possession of tools used to break into cars.
Hoima Grade One Magistrate Court presided over by Grade One Principal Magistrate, Elijah Iradukunda, heard that between December 2022 and January 2023, the suspects while in Hoima City were found with several tools used to break into cars, which included a hammer, pliers, pair of scissors and sharp metals.
Prosecution led by detective Julius Ochen told court that on January 3, 2023, the suspects while in Hoima town were intercepted by police while in possession of a stolen motor vehicle registration number UBB533X.
However, the three suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and Ochen asked court to set the date for hearing the case, saying investigations were completed.
Magistrate Iradukunda then remanded the suspects to Kiryateete prisons until January 18, 2023, when the suspects will reappear to defend themselves.
The same court remanded 25-year-old Moses Tugume, a resident of Kinubi in Hoima East Division, Hoima city over allegations of aggravated robbery and theft of a vehicle.
Court heard that on December 13, 2022, at Kyarushesha village in Butoole parish, Kyangwali Sub-county in Kikuube district, the suspect and others at large stole a vehicle registration number UAW760F Premo valued at Shs 20 million and belonging to John Tumushabe, a resident of the same area.
Prosecution also told court that on December 20, 2022, the suspect and others at large while in Kitole village in Buhimba Sub-county, Kikuube district, armed with a machete took off with another vehicle registration UAT322/G Premo valued at Sh20million and belonging to Emmanuel Businge.
The presiding magistrate remanded Tugume to Kiryateete government prison till January 25, 2023, when court will hear the case.
The Magistrate Iradukunda said the second case where a machete was used to steal a car from Businge is a capital offence only tried in High Court.
Earlier this month, police arrested five suspects connected to the rampant theft of vehicles in the Bunyoro Sub-region.
Julius Hakiiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson said police were hunting for the stolen cars with registration numbers UAT 322G which was stolen from Butole in Buhimba sub-county, and UAW760F stolen from Kyarushesha Kyangwali Sub-county Kikuube district.
Other vehicles being tracked by police are registered as UAJ764S, UAU 342B, UEU 342B, UAZ314C and UBB, all stolen from Hoima City.
Hakiiza said some suspects who are part of the gangs stealing cars were recently released from prisons after serving their sentences.
https://thecooperator.news/police-in-bunyoro-arrest-four-over-car-robberies/
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