Police in Arua District on Friday arrested and detained one Andama Juma 19 years over allegedly stealing a bus with Passengers on board.

Andaman is said to to have stole and drove off a bus registration number UBF 618T belonging to Nile Star bus company.

West Nile Police spokesperson SP Josephine Angucia confirmed the incident and said, it occurred in the wee hours of November 19, 2019 at 9:30am at the bus terminal along Adumi road, in Arua Municipality.

He also noted that the driver of the bus started to warm the engine of the bus preparing for the long journey to Kampala and at the same time waiting for passengers, Andama who is not a staff of the company entered into the bus and drove it with 16 passengers for about 5kms along Kampala road, up to Odianyadri Trading Centre in Vurra sub county, Arua district.

The turn man who did not suspect a wrong driver in the bus simply entered into it and continued for all that distance before confirming that the driver was a wrong person. He informed management who then ordered the bus to be taken back to the terminal. Police was alerted, suspect arrested, treated after being beaten by the angry mob, and detained at Arua Central Police Station.

Following the arrest, the said bus was brought to Arua CPS, exhibited and later released to the management to continue with its journey to Kampala.

Motive of this act is not known but the suspect was taken for medical examination to a certain his mental status and inquiries are going on in to his past criminal records.

Acase of stealing vehicle c/s 254(1) and 265 of PCA opened. Its the first time such a case of stealing a bus from its terminal in a broad day light has been registered in Arua. Investigations continue under Arua CRB 2897/2019.