Bugweri, Uganda: Territorial police in Bugweri District have arrested a suspected serial motorcycle thief who allegedly disguised as a prospective tenant to steal a motorcycle after convincing the owner to hand it over for a self-drive.
The suspect, Maganda Ivan, a resident of Idudi Town Council, was arrested following investigations into the theft of a motorcycle belonging to Mugoya Kulaimu.
According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at around 8:30am, when Maganda approached the complainant under the pretext of looking for a house to rent in Idudi Town Council.
Busoga East Regional Police Spokesperson Michael Kasadha said the suspect requested to use Motorcycle Registration Number UED 993N to pick his alleged property, a request that the owner granted.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that on January 4, 2026, at about 08:30am, Maganda Ivan, disguised as a prospective tenant, approached Mugoya Kulaimu and requested for his motorcycle to pick his properties,” ASP Kasadha said.
DailyExpress has established that the motorcycle owner allowed the suspect to ride with the landlady’s child, Arafat, up to Busembatia. However, upon reaching the area, the suspect reportedly abandoned the child and disappeared with the motorcycle.
The matter was reported to police after Arafat alerted the complainant. Officers, working with the local community, launched a manhunt that led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the motorcycle.
“The motorcycle was recovered, although some parts had been removed and replaced with old ones,” ASP Kasadha said, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s criminal activities.
Police further revealed that Maganda Ivan has a prior criminal record related to motorcycle theft and was recently charged in Kibuku District over a similar offence reported in December 2025.
“We have established that the suspect has another case of motorcycle theft reported on December 17, 2025, in Kibuku District,” Kasadha said.
Police have since cautioned boda boda operators and motorcycle owners against surrendering motorcycles to strangers or passengers, warning that such actions continue to expose them to theft.
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