By Jurugo Emmanuel Ogasto
A South Sudanese citizen whose vehicle number plate was recently stolen expressed appreciation to the Uganda Police Force for recovering the vehicle number plate.
This came after the Ugandan Police issued a statement announcing that several car number plates were recovered in Kampala, including one that belongs to South Sudanese refugees.
According to police, Muwanguzi Isaac, a 21-year-old resident of Salama Road in Kampala, Uganda, was arrested in connection with the theft of numerous registered vehicle number plates.
Duluga Moses, who lives in Adjumani and was the latest victim of the invisible theft ploy, said he was told by his close friends that his and other people’s cars’ number plates were recovered in Kampala.
“I got a call from my friend Saviour that Uganda police posted motor-vehicle number plates, and mine was seen among them,” Moses told the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper via phone.
“I have almost started to process a new one, but thank God they found it before the submission of my vehicle documents,” he added.
The South Sudanese refugee now advised the general public to always park their cars in a better and more secure environment.
“This should be a lesson to people who own cars; you need to park your car in a very good place,” he added.
Moses revealed that he sent 120,000 shillings to those criminals, but they failed to send his number plate afterward.
“The number they left behind was truly registered, and I sent 120K to their number, but those people are real thieves; they did not bring back my number plate,” he testified.
Police deputy spokesperson for Uganda Central Region, Luke Owoyesigire, said the suspect, Mr. Isaac, was apprehended on Tuesday in Kabowa following intensive surveillance and tracking efforts.
According to him, investigations have revealed that Isaac primarily operates in different areas of Uganda and has many agents targeting residential properties to steal number plates and occasionally other vehicle parts.
“Isaac’s modus operandi involves leaving his contact information behind, prompting victims to contact him for the return of their stolen number plates,” Luke said.
The Kabowa Police Department urges members of the public who may have lost their number plates to verify with the station.
Muwanguzi Isaac will be presented before the courts of law after the completion of his investigations.
The police in Kabowa assured the general public that they are diligently working to apprehend any accomplices associated with Isaac’s criminal activities.