The Uganda Police’s newly published 2024 Crime Report reveals a troubling trend, with nearly 5,000 motor vehicles reported to have been stolen in that year.
Out of the 4,890 vehicles that were reportedly stolen, only 2,447 were recovered.
A total of 486 vehicles were discovered abandoned. According to the report, it is suspected that the criminals first use these cars for illicit activities before discarding them.
Vehicles are often taken from parking areas, residences, and garages.
The findings underscore the growing sophistication of car theft rings, complicating recovery efforts for law enforcement agencies.
Most concerning is the fact that 1,957 vehicles remain unaccounted for, indicating the presence of organized criminal networks that may dismantle vehicles for parts or smuggle them to undisclosed locations.
The report also notes that the Kampala Metropolitan South area experienced the highest number of thefts, with 202 cases, followed by KMP North at 188, KMP East at 144, Rwizi at 88, Greater Masaka at 40, and Savannah at 37.
Despite these alarming statistics, police have reported a slight decrease of 1.2% in vehicle theft incidents compared to the previous year.
