Police have arrested a man accused of impersonating officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) to fraudulently facilitate motor vehicle ownership transfers, registration, and acquisition of number plates.
The suspect, identified as Richard Kalema, was apprehended on Tuesday evening during a covert operation supported by the Uganda Police Force. Authorities say Kalema had allegedly been fleecing unsuspecting members of the public by falsely claiming he could fast-track motor vehicle transactions.
According to police, Kalema admitted to posing as a Ministry official to process ownership transfers and registration services. He is currently detained at Jinja Road Police Station as investigations continue. Detectives believe he could be a ringleader in a wider criminal racket targeting clients seeking government services.
Bageya Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Transport, cautioned members of the public seeking services at the Motor Vehicle Registration Offices in Nakawa to deal strictly with authorized Ministry staff stationed at designated service desks.
He advised the public to verify staff identification before conducting any transactions, avoid engaging agents or middlemen operating outside official offices, and refrain from making payments to personal accounts or informal channels.
Waiswa added that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, will intensify enforcement operations to dismantle criminal networks exploiting citizens seeking government services.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals to the Police or directly to the Ministry’s Motor Vehicle Registration Office.
