Mbarara Central Police Station is struggling with congestion as more than 50 vehicles linked to traffic accidents and pending court cases occupy its grounds, raising questions about how long exhibits should remain in police custody.
Mbarara Central Police Station is grappling with severe space constraints as more than 50 vehicle wreckages and impounded cars linked to traffic accidents and pending court cases accumulate within its grounds, with some vehicles reportedly abandoned for years.
The congestion has forced police to extend storage beyond the designated yard, with several damaged and impounded vehicles lined up along an adjacent road.
A visit to the station reveals a yard filled with the remains of road crashes. While some vehicles appear to have been recently damaged, others have deteriorated, with grass growing around them, suggesting they have remained unclaimed for extended periods.
Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson Samson Kasasira said the release of vehicles held as exhibits is governed by legal procedures intended to protect evidence and ensure that property is returned to its rightful owner.
He said owners must provide sufficient proof of ownership and the required documentation before police can release a vehicle.
“We cannot simply hand over vehicles without proper verification and documentation. Every car held here is tied to a specific legal proceeding or investigation, and we must ensure that all official documentation and proof of ownership are fully satisfied before any exhibit leaves this facility,” Kasasira said.
He said the station was holding about 50 vehicles, all linked to pending court cases, although some could be released quickly once the necessary requirements were met.
“But a car can even be released in a day if the owner immediately presents sufficient evidence of ownership and cleared by court,” he added.
However, lawyer Moses Nuwagaba said administrative delays and prolonged court processes could contribute to vehicles remaining in police custody long after they are needed as evidence.
Nuwagaba argued that property should be returned to its rightful owner promptly once the legal basis for retaining it has ended, provided all applicable procedures have been followed.
“While the law dictates that property attached to concluded cases should be restored to its rightful owners without delay, administrative bottlenecks and delayed court processes frequently hamper this resolution, leaving vehicles stranded in police custody far longer than necessary,” Nuwagaba said.
He questioned why vehicles must remain physically at police stations for extended periods when evidence can often be presented to court through photographs, videos and documentary records.
“We don't tow cars to court, we take evidence to court in a document form, it can be a picture, or a video. Why then would a car take so long at police station unless someone wants a token, is waiting for a payment that hasn't been made,” Nuwagaba said.
His remarks raise questions about whether some vehicles could be released earlier without compromising investigations or court proceedings. However, the circumstances of each case, including evidentiary requirements and court orders, determine whether continued retention is justified.
Kasasira said police had previously sought legal guidance to dispose of some long-abandoned vehicles through public auctions, helping to create space during periods of congestion.
“We continue to evaluate long-abandoned exhibits in consultation with the judiciary so that lawful disposal or public auctions can be executed periodically to prevent complete operational paralysis at the station,” he said.
He added that some vehicle owners had died or disappeared, while their families had failed to follow up on the vehicles.
The accumulation of wreckages presents both a logistical challenge for police and a potential obstacle to the efficient management of exhibits. Vehicles occupying operational space can also deteriorate further while owners, investigators and courts await the necessary steps for their release or disposal.
For motorists whose vehicles remain at the station, police say the first step is to establish the status of the case, confirm the requirements for release and present valid ownership documents.
Where a case has concluded or a vehicle is no longer required as evidence, its owner can seek clarification from the investigating officer and the relevant court on the procedure for recovering it.
The continuing congestion at Mbarara Central Police Station highlights the need for timely case resolution, regular reviews of retained exhibits and clear procedures for returning or lawfully disposing of vehicles that are no longer required.