Shock as Catholic Priest Arrested Over Stolen UGX 136M Hilux Linked to Dead Cleric

Police in Chipata arrested a Catholic priest in connection with a stolen Toyota Hilux valued at UGX 136,645,908. The vehicle went missing from Ukwimi Catholic Parish last year. Police have recovered the vehicle.

The vehicle is a white Toyota Hilux with registration CAA 7255. It was reported stolen on April 30, 2025, after it disappeared from the church premises at Ukwimi while parked there.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the arrest to Diamond News.

He stated that a traffic officer on duty at the Mwami road checkpoint acted on a tip-off and intercepted a white Hilux with registration BAK 4227 early Sunday morning.

The driver was Father Simon Tembo, age 31, from Chipata Diocese. He claimed that he had hit a cow in Katete. He said he did not report the accident because he did not want Bishop George Lungu to learn his whereabouts.

Officers at Chipata Central Police Station inspected the vehicle. They found that the chassis number and engine number matched those of the vehicle stolen from Ukwimi Catholic Church last year.

Bishop Lungu informed police that the number plate on the vehicle had been involved in a fatal accident the previous week. The accident killed Father Astone Tembo. The vehicle was considered beyond repair at that time. Bishop Lungu expressed shock that the vehicle was back on the road.

Police then intensified their investigations. They confirmed that the intercepted vehicle was the same one stolen last year from Ukwimi Church in Lusangazi District. The chassis number and engine number matched the official records.

Suspended Father Simon Tembo remains in police custody. Investigations continue.