Jinja City Police Arrest Man for Illegally Converting Toyota Mark X into Pickup
JINJA CITY, Uganda — Police in Jinja City have arrested a man for illegally modifying a motor vehicle, after he converted a Toyota Mark X saloon car into a pickup, contrary to provisions of the Uganda Traffic and Road Safety Act.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 6, 2026, Traffic Police Spokesperson SP Michael Kananura said the vehicle was impounded at Jinja Bridge during a routine traffic enforcement operation after officers established that it had undergone unauthorized structural modification.
“Imagine a Toyota Mark X converted into a pickup. Such vehicle modifications are unlawful,” SP Kananura wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, noting that the alteration violated vehicle construction and use regulations under the Traffic and Road Safety Act.
Police explained that under Ugandan law, motor vehicles must not be altered in form, body type, or load capacity without approval from the relevant authorities, including the Inspectorate of Vehicles and the Ministry of Works and Transport. Unauthorized modifications are considered a traffic offence and pose significant road safety risks.
The arrest was made as part of the ongoing #ArriveAlive Phase II operations, a nationwide Uganda Police Force campaign aimed at enforcing road traffic laws, vehicle standards, and public safety compliance.
Authorities warned motorists against engaging in illegal vehicle modification, emphasizing that police will continue enforcing the Traffic and Road Safety Act on major roads, highways, and bridges, including key checkpoints within Jinja City.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue, while the vehicle remains impounded pending inspection and further legal action.
