Suspected Stolen Vehicle from Kampala Recovered in Arua During Sale
The west nile police team that recoverd the stolen Raum vehicle
ARUA: A Toyota Raum, registration number UA 401AJ, suspected to be stolen, was recovered in Arua City during a price negotiation between the seller and a prospective buyer.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Richard Amvuku, the Officer in Charge of Operations at Arua Central Police Station (CPS), said police acted on a tip from a resident about a suspicious vehicle being sold.
“Yesterday around 2:00 PM, a local informed us about a vehicle suspected to have been stolen from Kampala. The seller specifically targeted a Congolese buyer, avoiding Ugandans, which raised suspicion. We deployed a detective posing as a buyer, and during negotiations, we arrested the suspect,” Amvuku said.
The suspect, identified as Abbas Kiwalabye from Nansana, was allegedly selling the vehicle for Shs20 million to raise funds before fleeing to South Sudan.
A search of the vehicle uncovered documents linking it to Biso Muganda of Kampala, who had reported it stolen at Wandegeya Police Station under reference number SD 29/28/08/2025.
The vehicle and suspect are now set to be transferred to Kampala as part of the investigation.
West Nile Police spokesperson, SP Jimmy Anguyo, confirmed the recovery and warned that car thieves are increasingly targeting foreign buyers.
“We have recovered a vehicle suspected to be stolen from Kampala. The suspect avoided selling to locals, focusing on Congolese or South Sudanese buyers, which raised red flags. Through intelligence, we apprehended him. Car dealers must verify vehicle documents to avoid purchasing stolen property,” Anguyo said.
Police suspect that syndicates view Congo and South Sudan as lucrative markets for stolen vehicles. Anguyo urged buyers to exercise caution and verify documentation.
“Vehicle dealers should be vigilant. Never purchase a vehicle without proper documents from a verified source,” he advised.
This marks the second stolen vehicle recovered in Arua within two days, with suspects arrested in a similar case.