Police in Bunyoro arrest four over car robberies

HOIMA– Security in the Albertine region has arrested four suspects in Bunyoro Sub-region following a wave of car robberies that have left several car owners in tears.

Three of the suspects are being detained at Hoima City Central Police Station while the fourth suspect is in police cells in Kikuube district.

Julius Hakiiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, said that the suspects were arrested from different places by police flying squad upon receiving intelligence information.

Hakiiza, who was briefing news reporters at his office on Thursday last week declined to disclose the suspects’ identities, saying it could jeopardise the ongoing investigations.

He noted that the suspects are part of the gang of criminals who have been terrorising vehicle owners in the region, mainly targeting Premio and Wish model cars.

Hakiiza said some of the car robbers were recently released from prison after serving their sentences.

The thugs are alleged to have stolen over 20 vehicles in the region, with eight cars being stolen in December 2022, alone.

This month, two vehicles were stolen but one was recovered after the thugs abandoned it on the roadside after it developed a mechanical problem.

A police source who preferred anonymity revealed that most of the stolen vehicles are driven to Mubende district where they have been recovered.

He noted the arrested suspects have confessed to having participated in the crime, adding security is hopeful the information provided by the suspects could lead to the recovery of other stolen vehicles.  He added that police are hunting for other suspects still on the run.

He added that police had also recovered two vehicles which are suspected to have been stolen from other regions of the country, calling upon those who lost the vehicles to come and crosscheck with them.

Relatedly, a half-year-old baby Kyakuhaire Altakabiru, son of Margret Atuhura and Ashraf Kyakuhaire residents of Bulemwa village Kyesiga ward in Hoima west division in Hoima city was referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital after he was hit and injured by a ricocheted bullet as police pursued a suspected car robber.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when security got information that the suspect was in Kiryateete cell Hoima east division moving in the vehicle registration number UBB 533X from Hoima town.

Fred Wakisa, the executive director of Uganda Kolping Society, one of the people who lost the vehicles to thugs lauded the police for arresting suspects, adding that their arrest may lead to the recovery of his car.

https://thecooperator.news/oyam-16-die-in-bus-accident/

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