By Jurugo Emmanuel Ogasto
A South Sudanese refugee named Duluga Moses fell victim to a group of invisible thugs who plucked out his car’s number plate on Sunday night in Uganda’s Adjumani Town.
The thugs then left a note demanding a ransom of UG Shillings 120,000 to return the number plate.
Moses, who currently resides in Adjumani Town Council in Uganda’s West Nile region, shared his experience with the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
He expressed his disbelief upon discovering that his vehicle’s number plate had vanished without a trace in the morning.
Moses stated that the note included mobile numbers, 0742305710 and 0742305710 which were placed on the car with a quote: “Deposit 120,000 shillings if you want to get your number plate.”
“I was shocked in the morning after seeing my car without a number plate,” he said.
“These thieves came at night and removed it and demanded money of about 120K,” he narrated.
“These thieves are smart. They even make you deposit the money on a different mobile money number before directing you to the location where you can pick up your number plate,” Moses remarked.
According to reports, in just a span of two months, at least two cases of similar incidents have been recorded within the district.
The first incident happened on January 21, 2024, when an unidentified thief plucked off two number plates from two cars parked in residential homes in Rassia village, Marindi parish, Pachara sub-county, Adjumani district, and left behind a mobile phone number.
Ignatius Dragudu, the North West Nile Region Police Spokesperson, explained that the masterminds mostly target vehicles parked at residential places and by the roadside.
According to him, there is a need for increased vigilance and neighbourhood watch among the community amidst the new wave of crime in the district.
It is an offence under the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998, as amended, to drive a vehicle without identification, defaced, or even obscured number plates.
Under the same Act, driving a vehicle without a number plate or one whose number plate is obscure attracts a fine of 100,000 shillings.