Flying Squad Units in Masaka and Mukono conducted three separate operations resulting in the recovery of five motor vehicles and one motorcycle.
Additionally, several number plates suspected to be from stolen vehicles were seized, and three notorious robbers were apprehended.
Fred Enaga, the police spokesperson says one of the operationa happened in Masaka,on January 3, 2024, led by police officers from Bukoto Police during a burial ceremony in Butale village. He says this resulted in the arrest of one Lukyamuzi Faruku, a 28-year-old land blocker from Kyengera town council in Wakiso.
Faruku was caught in the act of targeting motor vehicles at the function. The officers later recovered a gray Premio with the registration number UAK762T, along with the discovery of hidden number plates under the car seats. The impounded vehicle was equipped with breaking implements.
In another incident on January 5, 2024, the Flying Squad Unit in Masaka pursued suspected thugs surveilling the area in a vehicle with a fake number plate, UBM 858N.
According to Enanga, the pursuit ended near Total Petrol Station on Masaka-Kyotera road, where the team managed to deflate the tires, bringing the vehicle to a halt.
He reveals that the operation also led to the arrest of Ddamulira Edward, a 40-year-old resident of Kvrumbi zone, Nateete Kampala, was arrested. Edward confessed to using master keys to rob valuables from vehicles in busy places, hotels, markets, and parked on roadsides within Greater Kampala, other cities, and major towns.
He further reveals that the suspect, along with two accomplices from Kyengera, had targeted Masaka City, where they had already broken into two vehicles, stealing belongings in Nabyewanga and Lukaya town.
In Mukono, the Flying Squad arrested Wandera John alias Katiginyi from Namubiru village, Nama sub-county. He was found selling a suspected stolen motor vehicle with registration number UBE 973W, white in color, which he and his accomplices had stolen from Nsangi.
Two accomplices, Wasiko Isaac, and Patrick Mukyepere, and Kanyankole Gideon and Ivan are currently on the run.
The criminal racket was involved in selling stolen vehicles to individuals wanted by the police, including Siraje in Iganga and Brian of Bwaise.
Recovered items also included a motor vehicle with registration number UBB 071U, a motorcycle with registration number UFL 975H, and a Premio Super with a fake number plate UAW 025L. Investigations revealed that the criminals altered the chassis number, color, and number plate after stealing the vehicles.