Kampala’s IMEI changers arrested

Kampala Police on Monday arrested two men for allegedly involving in activities of changing the IMEI numbers of expensive stolen mobile phones in the city.

The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique serial number alloted to every GSM mobile phone and is used by networks to identify valid phones and block stolen or blacklisted phones.

Police in Kampala has been searching for stolen mobile phones through its IMEI number. However, the accused identified as Meseal Nkuubi and Joseph Nsumba all S.6 dropouts have been involved in the business of changing the IMEI numbers of the stolen phones though an electronic machine.

The suspects said they bought the serial manipulating machines from Ebay online shop and downloaded tutorials of how to use the machines from YouTube .

The two suspects have been in contact with a mobile theft gang operating in Kampala and the surrounding suburbs. The suspects confessed to have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the phone snatchers who give a 23% upon manipulation of each phone serial number.

Following a tipoff from an undercover officer, CPS Kampala Police laid a trap and arrested them. They recovered several mobile phones from them and other gadgets.

The suspects told police that they have been involved in this illegal activity since the past six months.

They are currently detained at CPS Kampala vide GEF 086/2018 as investigations are ongoing.

The ugly side of the story is that these phone thugs are known in the city, but they always connive with the police officers handling the files and they let them off the hook.

A source intimated to this site that each type of phone has got its own expert in this city. Let say if the goons steal an iPhone they will immediately take to so and so, if it is a Sam Sung S….they know where to take it. Police should do the work not to leave Ugandans at the mercy of thugs.