Police investigating the murder of SC Villa captain Owor David have made a significant breakthrough after tracing the iPhone 14 Pro Max stolen from the deceased to two suspects believed to be part of a wider stolen-phone network.
The phone’s tracking reportedly led investigators to Munyaneza Bashir alias ‘Jemo’, described by police as a suspected dealer in stolen mobile phones, and his associate Magoba Samuel.
The development has opened a wider investigation into a suspected network dealing in stolen mobile devices, with police recovering a substantial collection of exhibits during the operation.
Among the recovered items are four bags containing suspected stolen mobile phones, including 80 iPhones, 40 Samsung phones, eight Redmi phones, two Tecno phones, two Infinix phones, two Vivo phones and three button phones.
Police also recovered four phone motherboards and three iPads, alongside a collection of SIM cards from different telecommunications networks, including MTN, Safaricom, Airtel and Lyca.
The haul did not end with mobile phones.
Investigators also recovered ladies’ bags, identification documents, phone covers and hard drives, items that could potentially help establish the identities of other victims and trace the movement of the suspected stolen property.
The investigation follows the killing of Owor David, who was associated with SC Villa and had previously been named among the club's players in official Uganda Cranes squad records.
Police are now working to establish the full extent of the suspected operation and determine whether the recovered devices are connected to other reported cases of robbery and theft.
The exhibits are expected to undergo further examination as investigators work to identify their rightful owners and establish how the phones came into the possession of the suspects.
The probe remains ongoing as detectives pursue additional leads and seek to establish the wider network behind the suspected stolen-phone trade.