By Robert Segawa
The Police Crime Intelligence Department has arrested three suspects and recovered 143 suspected stolen iPhones that were allegedly being transported on Volcano buses destined for Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation in which detectives tracked the suspects to the Volcano Bus Park along Namirembe Road, where two of them were arrested.
The suspects have been identified as Tumusime Derrick, also known as Guna, who operates from Kalungi Plaza in Kampala’s city centre. He was arrested red-handed while carrying a bag containing numerous iPhones that were allegedly being transported to Rwanda.
The second suspect, Niyonzima Fabrice Sadat, a Rwandan phone dealer, was arrested in possession of six iPhones that he was also preparing to send to Rwanda. Police say he has been involved in the illicit trade for about a year and has been sourcing the phones from criminal gangs.
The third suspect, Kitoko Emmy, was arrested while loading bags containing the phones onto a Volcano bus bound for Rwanda and the DRC.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, all three suspects confessed during interrogation that they obtained the phones from individuals who do not operate legitimate phone shops.
“We have so far managed to identify the owners of 20 iPhones, and we are working to establish the rightful owners of the remaining recovered phones,” Owoyesigyire said.
He explained that tracking some of the stolen devices is challenging because criminals often remove the original motherboard and transfer components into cheaper replacement boards before selling the phones locally or across the border. As a result, unsuspecting buyers may purchase stolen phones believing they are genuine.
Owoyesigyire warned phone dealers against purchasing suspicious devices, saying any trader found dealing in suspected stolen phones risks arrest and confiscation of all phones found in their shop during police operations.
Some of the victims who successfully identified their recovered phones told police that the devices had been stolen from bars, while others lost them in taxis or while riding on boda bodas.
Police have appealed to anyone who has lost an iPhone or Samsung phone to report to the Crime Intelligence Headquarters in Kololo with proof of ownership, including genuine purchase receipts, to verify and claim their devices.
