The police in Old Kampala have apprehended three suspects in connection with 15 stolen vehicles. The suspects, identified as Lorence Luwaga (32), Sadi Nauru (45), and Patrick Kasereka, were operating a garage where they would modify the stolen vehicles and alter their chassis numbers.
Police stormed Luwangula Auto Garage in Rubaga division following a tip-off. According to Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luwangula Auto Garage had previously been accused of involvement in altering vehicles.
“A targeted operation was carried out in the Kayanja triangle area, specifically at Luwangula Auto Garage known for its involvement in altering car serial numbers, engine numbers, and colors,” Onyango said.
During the operation, Luwaga, who claimed to be the owner of the garage and a resident of Nansana, was found in possession of over fifteen cars, four of which lacked authentic documents. The garage is situated near Monalisa Bar in Rubaga Division, Kampala District.
Police investigations revealed that the suspected stolen vehicles, including a Nissan Patrol, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Toyota Harrier, had different colors, altered serial numbers, and chassis compared to the information on their documents.
All the vehicles had Congolese number plates. “The mechanic at Luwangula Auto Garage had changed the original white color of the impounded cars to various other colors. The vehicles, along with their corresponding documents, were seized and towed to Old Kampala Police,” Onyango said.
It was previously discovered that the Police Flying Squad Unit recorded more than seven cases of stolen vehicles per week. Serial robbers and killers who were recently arrested by the Flying Squad disclosed that they often use alternative number plates to avoid detection by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
They swiftly change the number plates of the stolen vehicles they operate.
Below is Police’s full statement
On July 4, 2023, at 1600 hours, the police at Old Kampala successfully recovered multiple suspected stolen cars and apprehended three suspects. Based on intelligence information, a targeted operation was conducted in the Kayanja triangle area, specifically at Luwangula Auto Garage, which is known for its involvement in altering car serial numbers, engine numbers, and colours.
The owner of the garage, Luwaga Lorence, a 32-year-old resident of Nansana, was discovered in possession of over fifteen cars, four of which lacked authentic documents. The garage is located near Monalisa Bar in Rubaga Division, Kampala District.
Investigations revealed that the suspected vehicles, including a Nissan Patrol, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Toyota Harrier, had different colours, altered serial numbers, modified engine numbers, and all bore Congo number plates compared to the information on their documents.
The mechanic at Luwangula Auto Garage had changed the original white colour of the seized cars to various other colours. The vehicles, along with their corresponding documents, were confiscated and towed to Old Kampala Police Station for further examination.
Currently, three suspects are in custody as part of the ongoing inquiries. Luwaga Lorence, a 32-year-old male adult, Nauru Sadi, a 45-year-old Congolese national and mandated refugee residing in Kabowa, Rubaga South Division, and Kasereka Patrick, a 38-year-old Congolese national, an asylum seeker, and a resident of Rubaga South, who has been in Uganda for less than two months.
P. Onyango
SSP PRO KMP
5 Jul 23