Wakiso, Uganda: Police in the Kampala Metropolitan South region have recovered 44 motorcycles and arrested 13 suspects following an intelligence-led operation targeting criminal networks involved in motorcycle theft, dismantling, and rebranding.
The operation was conducted on June 17, 2026, at around 5:00 p.m. at Nakati Garage and Washing Bay in Nakati Zone, Nabbingo Ward, Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala, the operation followed intelligence reports indicating that the garage was allegedly being used to dismantle suspected stolen motorcycles, alter their identity and return them to circulation using forged registration details.
Police officers raided the premises and recovered dozens of motorcycles and spare parts believed to be linked to criminal activities.
Among the items recovered were 44 motorcycles, eight motorcycles without engines, fuel tanks or seats, seven motorcycle skeletal frames, six motorcycle engines, ten exhaust pipes, four number plates and several other motorcycle components.
Police said some of the recovered motorcycles bore registration numbers including UDM 696K, UMA 475JN, UDZ 213V, UMA 187JW, UFZ 077U, UFQ 548Q, UGH 315T, UFH 337U, UER 698X, UMA 516KK, UFJ 792L, UGD 654S, UGH 318Q, UGC 539Z, UMA 246C, UFE 772R, UEP 161D, UDP 278V, UDX 573B, UEQ 707Q, UDP 359S, UDK 481Q, UDH 526X, UDS 026S, UES 711U, UEB 633D, UDN 954M, UGG 848P, UEJ 400T and UMA 511HA.
The 13 suspects arrested during the operation remain in police custody pending further investigations.
Police have launched efforts to identify the rightful owners of the recovered motorcycles and are calling upon victims of motorcycle theft to come forward and verify ownership.
“Efforts are underway to identify and trace the rightful owners of the recovered motorcycles, while operations to apprehend the owner of the garage are ongoing,” SP Kawala said.
The police spokesperson urged members of the public who may have lost motorcycles matching any of the listed registration numbers to contact the nearest police station or Kampala Metropolitan South Police for assistance.
Motorcycle theft remains one of the most common crimes reported within the Kampala Metropolitan Area, with criminal syndicates often dismantling stolen motorcycles and selling the parts or re-registering them using forged documentation.
The latest operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle organized criminal networks targeting commercial motorcyclists and private motorcycle owners in Kampala and surrounding districts.
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