Zombo, Uganda: Boda boda leaders in Zombo District have raised alarm over a sharp spike in motorcycle thefts, reporting that 25 registered motorcycles have been stolen in just three months, crippling livelihoods across the district.
The Zombo District Boda Boda Association says the wave of thefts, recorded between December 2025 and February 2026, is one of the most serious challenges currently facing riders in the area.
Addressing journalists in Paidha Town Council over the weekend, the association’s Overall Stage Manager, Godfrey Monday Wabinenu, described the situation as alarming.
“We have lost 25 motorcycles, with cases recorded across different parts of the district and from various boda boda stages,” Wabinenu said.
He noted that the trend intensified recently, with four additional motorcycles reported stolen in the past week alone.
Among the stolen motorcycles is registration number UFG 928D belonging to association treasurer Stephen Onega, as well as bikes owned by riders James Okethwengu, Canwat Stephen and several others.
Organised Criminal Networks Suspected
Association leaders believe the stolen motorcycles are rarely resold intact but are dismantled for spare parts by organised criminal networks.
Riders say suspects often pose as customers and lure them to isolated locations before attacking them using iron bars, machetes or even chloroform to seize the motorcycles.
Fred Onenarach, Chairman of the Zombo District Boda Boda Association, which comprises over 3,000 members, warned that the crisis could extend beyond registered riders.
“This affects boda boda riders for now, but we believe many community motorcycles may be facing the same fate,” Onenarach said. He announced plans for joint crackdown operations with security agencies to dismantle the suspected criminal rings.
The association has also launched an internal operation targeting unregistered motorcycles operating within the district, pledging to report suspicious bikes directly to police.
Leaders have called for enhanced collaboration among security forces and boda boda associations across the West Nile, Acholi and Lango sub-regions, as well as Mahagi territory in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to track and apprehend suspects.
National Trend
The surge in Zombo reflects a broader national challenge. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024, 6,311 motorcycle theft cases were recorded nationwide in 2024, marking a 4.1 per cent increase from 6,065 cases in 2023.
Of the 11,214 motorcycles reported stolen in 2024, only 2,355 were recovered, 1,527 were found abandoned, while 7,332 remained unrecovered, underscoring the scale of the problem.
As of this report, no arrests have been publicly confirmed in connection with the Zombo cases.
Local leaders have urged affected riders to report theft incidents immediately and cooperate fully with security agencies to stem the growing wave of motorcycle-related crime.
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