Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Kiira region has arrested a 24-year old man, Eric Kitumukiza, a Rwandese National over leading an organized criminal gang of youths who vandalize and take number plates of vehicles belonging to members of the Indian community in Jinja city and the surrounding areas before demanding ransom from them.
Kitumukiza who reportedly originates from the areas of Kayonza in Rwanda was arrested while attempting to break into the house of one Indian located in Rippon village, Southern division in Jinja city.
Police personnel searched his bag and recovered a black book which contained details of the number plates of their potential victims with names of those willing to pay the ransom to receive their number plates back and those not willing.
It is reported that the suspects would steal number plates from vehicles of their potential victims, direct them to pay a minimum of 500,000-1,000,000 Shillings in a period of one week without fail. They could drop threatening leaflets at the gates, shops and vehicles of whoever declined to comply with their demands, which forced potential victims to engage police authorities.
Ramon Raji, a member of the Indian community says that due to the long processes involved in replacing lost number plates, victims preferred paying them off and only engaged police after receiving life threatening leaflets. “These suspects were targeting Indians from different parts of the country, because Indians from Iganga, Bugiri, Tororo and other areas were also complaining about the same, but due to fear of the hectic number plate replacement processes, most of us had shunned the idea of involving police as it was also time consuming,” says Raji.
Last week, police arrested Kitumukiza’s other three accomplices; Borniface Otim, Vincent Omoni and Ponsiano Ochwo from the areas of Tororo where they were hiding.
The acting Jinja CPS police commander, Maurice Niyonzima confirms the incident adding that the suspects will face charges related to theft and vandalism of vehicle number plates.
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