Police in Mbarara is holding 3 alleged serial car robbers, one of them a police officer.
The arrested are SP Isaac Ssegawa attached to CPS Kampala, Edwin Katwesigye a bodaboda cyclist around Katete Mbarara, and Edward Tugume a salon operator also in Mbarara.
Rwizi regional police spokesperson Vincent Ssekate told press that the suspects entered Mbarara Referral Hospital and stole Toyota Corsa number UAE 822P belonging to UPDF Officer Peter Tumwine, who works at the Hospital.
Ssegawa, according the police publicist was the driver of the one of the police vehicles that were following Col Dr Kizza Besigye during the last presidential elections.
Sekatte said the involvement of such a senior police constable in robbery was ‘shocking.’
He noted that car robberies have been on the rise in Mbarara over the past months and that so far 25 cases have bee reported since this year.
“Our biggest challenge at the moment are private security guards especially at nightspots, who connive with the robbers,’ he said.
“The most targeted are Toyota vehicles which have read market in neighboring Tanzania and DRC. The thieves usually dismantle the vehicles and sell them in spare parts.”
Ssekate said the file of the 3 suspects will be taken to the state attorney who will advise on the charges to be slapped on them.