Police In the Kigezi region have established that the woman arrested for the theft of a car at the burial of prominent businessman Apollo Nyegemehe alias Aponye, is a habitual car robber.
The suspect Shamim Bitariho, a resident of Namungoona in Kampala City , was netted by police at the Nyeihanga town council checkpoint at around 10:00 pm with the stolen car Grey Suzuki Reg No. UAT 478N, driven by a clergy from Kikugiri Archdeaconry in Kabale.
She stole the car at Kitaburaza cell, in Muhanga town council in Rukiga district during burial and a case of missing car was reported at police posts along the Kabale Mbarara highway.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi region Police spokesperson says preliminary investigations indicate that Bitariho used master keys to open the car and run off towards Ntungamo road. She was found in the possession of nine master keys, that were allegedly used to commit the crime.
Maate says police retrieved CCTV footage from Rubaare Town Council that showed the suspect in the company of a male accomplice on the run parked for a while before proceeding towards Mbarara.
“When they reached our checkpoint at Nyamukana they were stopped but refused to stop, drove through forcefully and the officer there had to quickly inform the police in Nyeihanga which also mounted another checkpoint that intercepted the vehicle.” says Maate
He says Bitariho is a habitual car robber and was found with several exhibits like master keys, 05 sticks of marijuana, 500,000 shillings, and 2 trays of eggs among others.
Rev Milton Nkurunungi, the Diocesan Secretary says Bitariho has become a public threat because she has stolen several vehicles.
Bitariho is currently in police custody at Muhanga Police.