JINJA, UGANDA: Police in Jinja city conducted a Thursday night crackdown where they arrested 15 youths suspected of masterminding ‘syndicated’ motorcycle thefts within the city.
Police detectives also recovered sharp knives and a motorcycle registration number; UFG 115K, which is reported to have been stolen during the lockdown period.
The operation was triggered by the increasing cases of motorcycle theft within Jinja city. It is reported that in the past one month, eight cases of motorcycle theft were registered along the different highways connecting to Jinja city’s central business area.
The suspects who are currently detained at Jinja central police station were arrested from the city suburbs of Wakitaka and mailo mbili.
A source privy to the investigations who spoke on condition of anonymity told URN that the suspects would pretend to be passengers transporting majorly children and patients, only to threaten their victims with sharp knives and speed off with their motorcycles.
“The highways where most of these robberies occur are normally quiet during curfew time which enables these criminals to easily threaten their unsuspecting victims with sharp instruments before stealing their motorcycles,” he says.
Eria Musobya, the chairperson of motorcyclists in Jinja city says that the operation was timely as it had become hard for them to use highways even during emergencies.
“Most of us transport essential workers and patients during curfew time, however, this new wave of crime had put our lives at risk and it is a sigh of relief that some of our tormentors have been arrested,” Musobya says.
Kiira regional police spokesperson James Mubi says that the suspects will face three counts of being in possession of suspected stolen motorcycle, being in possession of dangerous weapons and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs.
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