KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Police in Kampala have arrested six suspects believed to be the masterminds behind the rampant boda boda theft in Kawempe division, a Kampala suburb.
The Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire identified the suspects as; Mayanja Godfrey, Mukunda Charles, Asiimwe Brian, Katongole Reagan, Tamale Vincent, and Kayemba Elvis, all of whom were found in possession of stolen motorcycles and were planning to dismantle them for sale.
These were arrested in an operation carried out on Wednesday, April 19 after a tip-off from a reliable source over the rampant theft of motorcycles in Lugoba Village Urban Council, Kawempe Division.
Owoyesigyire said that during the search operation, police recovered several stolen items, including number plates, side mirrors, and number plate guards.
“Mayanja Godfrey, who identified himself as a mechanic, was arrested from his residence in Lugoba Village Urban Council, where he had hidden two number plates, UEZ 616M and UEV 832P, two pairs of side mirrors, and two number plate guards, the KMP deputy PRO stated.
During his arrest, Mayanja led police detectives to one Mukunda Charles, who was later arrested with a stolen motorcycle and confessed to stealing it from his boss. Mukunda then led the police to Semakau’s parking yard, where they recovered another stolen motorcycle.
“Further investigations led the police to Asiimwe Brian, who was found in possession of several stolen items, including four black helmets, 13 sit guards of motorcycle number plates, six side mirrors, two trucking devices, two ignition switches, and one rope of about 7 meters used in their operations.”
Asiimwe led the police to Tamale Vincent, who was also involved in the theft of motorcycles. Tamale led the police to Katongole Reagan, who had stolen a motorcycle from Kikoni Makerere.
Kayemba Elvis, a gatekeeper of a certain house where stolen motorcycles were kept, was also arrested, and the police were able to recover a stolen Bajaji boxer motorcycle.
“It is evident that this group of individuals has been operating within Kawempe, stealing motorcycles and changing number plates to avoid detection. The police suspect that there may be more individuals involved in this criminal activity and investigations are ongoing,” added Owoyesigyire.
Police said the suspects who are currently detained at Kawempe police have been charged and are pending prosecution.
Owoyesigyire further noted that police are on a hunt for one Aka Mulugwala and others are still at large and urged the public to come forward with any information that may lead to their arrest.
“The Uganda Police Force commends the public for their cooperation and urges them to continue to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and will continue to work tirelessly to bring criminals to justice,” he concluded.
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