Seven arrested as police recover over 200 stolen phones in Mbarara

Suspects with some of the suspected stolen items at Mbarara central police station on Monday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA

Police in Mbarara are holding seven phone technicians suspected to have stolen over 200 mobile phones in Mbarara town.
Rwizi region Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said because of alarming cases of kidnap, murder and aggravated robbery in the country, police and its sister security agencies are carrying out different operations to curb down crime in the country.

"As you know we have had alarming cases of kidnap, murder, aggravated robbery, and most of it is armed robbery so it is from that basis that we want to curb down crime not only in Mbarara but rather the whole country." Mr Kasasira said.

Mr Kasasira said the suspects were found with over 200 stolen phones, un specified number of iPads, five laptops, three monitors, and unspecified number of DVD players. They were arrested from High street, Markangsingh street and One-week studio in Mbarara town.

"Police and its sister forces have been carrying out operations for the last two weeks and we were able to arrest seven technicians in fixing phones. They were arrested from Mbarara town along the Mbarara High Street, Markarnsigh Street and One Week Studio with stolen phones, Laptops, DVD players, and many other electronics." Mr Kasasira said
He said the suspects will be charged with being in possession of suspected stolen property.

One of the suspects talking to Mbarara RDC Lt.Col James Mwesigye at Mbarara central Police Station on Monday. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA

Mr Kasasira said police are working under the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola, to ensure crime is curbed in Mbarara and other parts of the country.
According to Mbarara Resident District Commissioner Lt. Col James Mwesigye since the murder of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) student, Police with its sister forces started an operation dubbed ‘’Fagiya Ukyafu’’ to fight the increasing crime in the district.