By KT Reporter
Victims of car thefts in Luwero district have appealed to the Inspector General of Police seeking justice after failing to recover their vehicles.
According to the Police crime report, atleast 17 cars have been stolen from Luwero district from January to July 2025. At least four suspects have been taken to Court for trial, whereas three are still in Police cells waiting to be charged.
But victims of car thefts have accused of police of profiting from car thefts and failing to recover their stolen leaving them crying foul.
Ruth Kayaga, the Director of Africa Guest House in Luwero town, explains that thugs broke into her premises and home before disappearing with the three stolen cars.
Kayaga said that she reported the cases to the Police and submitted CCTV footage, which helped to arrest suspects, but to date, the cars have never been recovered.
Gaster Ssenozi, a resident of Kasana PIIDA zone in Luwero town council, said his car was stolen in March this year from his home by armed thugs and reported the matter to Kasana Police Station for help in vain.
Muhamadi Ssemakula, another victim, said his car, Premio registration number UAS 450F, was stolen in April this year, and he spent two million shillings to facilitate the Flying Squad to ensure they track and arrest the suspects.
Ssemakula added that despite spending the money, the Police have failed to recover his stolen car.
Each victim claimed that they paid 2-6 million shillings each to facilitate the Flying Squad in tracking the cars, but all these have been taken without any success.
Bernard Sseremba, another victim, instead accuses the Police of releasing suspects after pocketing bribes from them.
“Police arrested a man who stole my car and transported him to Luwero CPS. They found him with two other files of car theft, but later they released him. We suspect that the Police solicit money from thieves to release them, leaving us, the victims, crying foul.” Sseremba
Car owners are not only the victims of theft. The thugs have also targeted motorcycles, leaving the injured and others dead.
Haksam Kiryowa, a boda boda rider, said his motorcycle registration number UGG 695R was stolen after he was hit by a hammer, but months later, he managed to identify the robber and mobilised his colleagues to arrest him.
Kiryowa said that the robber confessed to stealing the motorcycle, but three weeks later Police have yet to compel him to bring back his vehicle and fears that they are planning to release him.
As a result, the victims of car and motorcycle thefts have appealed to the Inspector General of Police seeking his intervention to deploy another competent unit to investigate and fight the crimes, as well as help to recover the vehicles.
The victims say they have lost trust in Police Stations and they want another independent unit to track the stolen cars.
But Sam Twiineamzima, the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson, has defended the Force, saying it has tried to fight car thefts and so far recovered about five out of the seventeen vehicles that have been stolen since this year began.
Twiineamazima said, however, Police are yet to recover others because they are yet to identify the alleged suspects.
According to the Annual Crime Report,24 motor vehicles and 138 motorcycles were stolen in 2024 from Luwero. The district was ranked in sixth position with the highest cases of motorcycle thefts across the country.
The motorcycle thefts increased from 120 cases reported in 2023, 31 registered in 202,2 and 87 cases recorded in 2021-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
