City tycoon nabbed in car theft racket

By Joseph Mutebi

The Police crack unit charged with handling violent crime in the city and surrounding areas have arrested a city tycoon implicated in car theft.

Godfrey Ssengendo a businessman based in Kyengera, along Kampala-Masaka Road, was arrested after seven cars were found at his residence during a security operation.

Police found Toyota brand cars including an Ipsum, Prado, Spacio and others parked in his compound at Nabaziza Zone on Thursday.

Ssengendo’s arrest followed a tipoff by Dr. Zeverio Ssamula whose car was robbed four days after he called a mechanic to fix it at his home in the same area.

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The suspects that were arrested in the operation

Ssamula was approached by brokers who informed him that there were cars that were being sold at a giveaway price. On cue, he feigned interest and went to take a look at the cars as a prospective buyer.

After he tipped the Police, security operatives swung into action and stormed the tycoon’s compound where they arrested three people and five brokers from Ndeeba who look for market for the cars.

Ssengendo was then arrested in Mpigi where he also has a home and property. Ssengendo has a school in Mpigi where he teaches people about traditional medicine.

Tycoon speaks out

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The fleet of cars that was found at Ssengendo's home

Ssengendo however denied being part of a car theft racket saying he owns all the cars and are hired for business. He said he had instructed brokers to look for market so he could sell them off to clear an outstanding loan with a bank. To prove his claims he sent for the car log books which were produced before the Police.

However the Police discovered that some of the log books bore no TIN numbers as required by law. He was later whisked to Kampala central Police station for further investigations.

Kampala metropolitan Police spokesperson Idd Ibin Ssenkumbi said they would verify the log books with Uganda Revenue Authority to establish whether they were genuine. As the festive season draws nearer there is an unprecedented
increase in car theft in and around the city.