How social media ‘noise’ helped Kayemba recover his stolen numberplates

2026-03-03 - 13:09

When Meddie Enock Kayemba, proprietor of Medik Auto Spare Parts in Ndeeba, Kampala, lost both his number plates to thugs who broke into his premises recently, he initially resigned himself to what has become a familiar ordeal for many motorists. Distressed by persistent calls from the criminals, who not only stole from him but appeared determined to extort him further, Kayemba believed replacing the plates would be a long and complicated bureaucratic process. Faced with that prospect, he chose to negotiate. “They asked for Shs 320,000. I sent the money, and they only returned one plate. Later, they demanded more to release the second one,” Kayemba said. He explained that advice from acquaintances about the allegedly cumbersome replacement process influenced his decision to pay the ransom. However, when the demands escalated, he turned to social media, sharing his experience online.