Kampala Police recover 30 stolen number plates dumped in potato garden
Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, on Friday, September 12, 2025, in a statement, revealed that the number plates were recovered a day earlier.
The 30 number plates that were recovered by Police in Lubowa, Kampala city. (Credit: Police)
By Charles Etukuri
Journalists @New Vision
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Police in Lubowa, Kampala city, say they have recovered 30 car number plates dumped in a sweet potato garden.
Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, on Friday, September 12, 2025, in a statement, revealed that the number plates were recovered a day earlier.
“Lubowa Police Station has made a significant recovery, seizing 30 motor vehicle number plates on September 11, 2025, at around 1:30pm in Sseguku Zone 5,” Onyango said.
He explained that the Police acted on a tip-off, leading them to a sweet potato garden where they found a sack branded "Kakira Sugar" containing the stolen number plates.
“Statements have been recorded from relevant witnesses, and the recovered number plates are currently held at Lubowa Police Station. Owners who reported stolen number plates are urged to visit Lubowa Police Station to identify and reclaim their property,” he stated.
‘Not a new phenomenon’
Theft of number plates in Uganda is not a new phenomenon. Thieves have often made a tradition of plucking car number plates and then leaving their numbers behind for the owners to call them. When called, they usually demand a certain amount of money ranging from sh50,000 to sh300,000 or even more.
Whereas some people have paid and recovered their number plates, others have not. These stolen number plates are usually kept near where one had packed.
Most car owners whose number plates have been stolen instead opt to pay the thieves rather than engage in acquiring a new number plate, which is laborious.
If one is to process a new number plate, they will first report the theft to the Police. They are required to publish details of the stolen number plate in the newspapers, then get an assessment form for payment of a motor vehicle registration plate replacement from the Uganda Revenue Authority.
They will then have to pay the money to the bank, return receipts to URA, go to the authorised number plate issuer, pay the fees, wait, and finally get the number plate replacement.