Wakiso, Uganda: Police in Wakiso District have arrested eight suspects in connection with a motorcycle theft ring following an intelligence-led operation that led to the recovery of four stolen boda boda motorcycles.
The suspects have been identified as Bukenya Ashim (welder), Mutebi Denis (welder), Senono Tonny (mechanic), Katongole Salim (builder), Mutesasira Brian (mechanic), Wampande Alex (scrap dealer), Kiwewa Farick (mechanic), and Lukenge Sulaiman (boda boda rider), all currently in police custody as investigations continue.
The arrests stem from a case reported on Monday, April 13, 2026, at around 8:00 PM, involving the theft of motorcycle registration number UMA 594BT from a rider in Naalya Nansese Village, Muduuma Sub-county, Mpigi District.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Rachael Kawala, the suspects were apprehended in Kikaaya Village, Ssumbwe Parish, Wakiso District during a targeted operation.
Kawala confirmed that the operation led to the recovery of the stolen motorcycle UMA 594BT, along with three other suspected stolen bikes, UEW 155H, UEK 013F, and UER 546H, all Bajaj Boxer models.
One of the suspects, Bukenya, a welder, was reportedly found attempting to tamper with the number plate of the stolen motorcycle. “He was found removing the number plate, allegedly intending to replace it with another,” Kawala said.
The arrests come amid growing concern over motorcycle theft in Uganda, where boda bodas remain a primary means of livelihood for many youth.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, theft of motorcycles continues to feature prominently among property-related crimes, with organised groups often dismantling or altering bikes to evade detection.
Police say intelligence-led operations will continue to target such criminal networks, particularly in urban and peri-urban districts like Wakiso.
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