Police in Arua has arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly stealing a bus with passengers on board .
The incident, according to the West Nile Police spokesperson, Josephine Angucia, happened on Friday when Juma Andama stole a bus registration number UBF 618T belonging to Nile Star bus company from the terminal along Adumi road in Arua municipality.
“Its alleged that the driver of the bus started to warm the engine of the bus preparing for the long journey to Kampala and at the same time waiting for passengers but Andama who is not a staff of the company entered into the bus and drove it with 16 passengers for about 5kms along Kampala road, up to Odianyadri Trading Centre in Vurra sub-county, Arua district,”Angucia said.
The police mouthpiece said that the turn man who did not suspect anything simply entered and the bus continued for a distance of 5kms without noticing that the person behind the wheel was not the designated driver.
It was not until a distance of five kilometres had been moved, that the turn man realized something was amiss and asked the “driver” for the bus to be taken back to the terminal before alerting the police.
“Police was alerted, suspect arrested, treated after being beaten by the angry mob, and detained at Arua Central Police Station. The bus was taken to Arua CPS, exhibited and later released to the management to continue with its journey to Kampala.”
According to police, the motive of the suspect is not known but he will be taken for medical examination to ascertain his mental status as well as inquire about his past criminal record.
“A case of stealing vehicle contrary to section 254(1) and 265 of the Penal Code Act has been opened,”Angucia said.
Last year, a police bus went missing from the Police headquarters in Naguru where they are always parked for a number of hours as authorities never knew its whereabouts.
“Be informed that Police Bus Reg No: UP 5484, Higar make, Police Blue (color) has gone missing. It was last seen on night of Sunday 23/12/2018 at around 0100 hours along the Northern Bypass, Kampala,” the police memo announcing the disappearance read in part.
However, the bus was later intercepted in Mityana district by police at night where its registration number plate had been plucked off.
It was later found out that the driver had taken it to his village so as to show off during the Christmas season.
Driver of ‘stolen’ police bus had gone to brag with it in village on Christmas
Discussion about this post