Police officer arrested over theft of car batteries in Buikwe

Police in Ssezibwa region have arrested an officer attached to the traffic department at Njeru police station over theft of car batteries.

Ssezibwa police spokesperson Hellen Butoto confirmed the detention of the police officer accused of stealing batteries from a private vehicle under his custody.

Ms Butoto said the suspect allegedly found the vehicle in the parking yard of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) at night as it had been parked after getting a mechanical breakdown.

“On November 22, 2024, at around 11pm, the Fuso got a mechanical problem at the new bridge. It was towed by a breakdown and parked at the parking yard of UNRA at New Source of the Bridge, pending investigation by police,’’ Ms Butoto explained.

She added: “Consequently, on November 23, the Fuso turn man identified as Adam Wagongo realized that two of the vehicle’s batteries were missing from the position where they were supposed to be.’’

Ms Butoto said police were tipped off by Mr Wagongo about the disappearance of batteries.

On November 28, a joint security agency that reviewed CCTV footage from the UNRA parking yard identified the suspect as Police Constable (PC) Geoffrey Oluja, who was deployed as a traffic officer at the checkpoint on the fateful night.

A UPDF officer at the Nile Bridge, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the male traffic officer was not a first-time offender as he had allegedly been involved in stealing items.

“It is not the first time the suspect has been involved in such criminality. His days were always numbered although he has tarnished the name of police,’’ an officer told Monitor on Tuesday.