Uganda Police recovered 46 stolen motor vehicles in June, with officials saying the results highlight the growing role of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) in combating vehicle theft and verifying ownership.

The recoveries represent an 88 percent success rate after 46 of the 52 vehicle theft cases reported during the month were resolved, according to the ITMS Monitoring Centre.

The Police deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, said in an interview on Saturday that the recoveries demonstrate how the continued rollout of the digital vehicle tracking system is strengthening law enforcement's ability to detect vehicle theft and speed up investigations.

The Monitoring Centre handled 145 vehicle and motorcycle-related incidents in June, up from 74 cases recorded in May, representing an almost 96 percent increase.

The new communication channels, they said, have enabled officers to report incidents more quickly through the ITMS platform, leading to faster response times and improved recovery efforts.

"The increase in reported incidents is a positive indicator that more police officers are actively utilising the smart platform," the Monitoring Centre said in a statement.

"Enhanced coordination, improved communication channels and the dedication of Monitoring Centre operators continue to strengthen our ability to support law enforcement in recovering stolen vehicles and motorcycles," it added.

The centre said collaboration with the Police Multimedia Unit, video analysis teams and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has further strengthened operations by enabling quicker verification of vehicle records and better coordination during field operations.

Separately, Kampala Metropolitan Police recovered one suspected stolen motor vehicle, one suspected stolen motorcycle and 15 motorcycles believed to have been hidden before being sold.

Mr Owoyesigyire said several suspects had been arrested and investigations into the thefts were ongoing.

"We have recovered a suspected stolen motorcycle, a suspected stolen motor vehicle and 15 motorcycles believed to have been concealed before being sold, while several suspects have been arrested and investigations are ongoing," he said.

He appealed to members of the public who have lost motorcycles to report to Wakiso Police Station with proof of ownership, including a national identity card and the motorcycle logbook, to establish whether any of the recovered motorcycles belong to them.

"Our operations against vehicle and motorcycle theft will continue as we pursue other suspects still at large and work to establish the rightful ownership of all recovered motorcycles," Mr Owoyesigyire said.

The ITMS, which is being rolled out nationwide, combines digital number plates with real-time monitoring technology to help security agencies track stolen vehicles and motorcycles, improve road safety and strengthen crime detection.

Police say the system is increasingly becoming a key tool in the fight against motor vehicle theft, which has remained a persistent challenge in urban centres, particularly Kampala and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Officials attributed the rise in reported cases to improved coordination between police stations and the Monitoring Centre following the deployment of dedicated hotline phones across the country.