By Ben Musanje
Police in the Kampala Metropolitan Area have arrested several suspects in a crackdown on motorcycle theft, aggravated robbery and other crimes, uncovering cases in which motorcycles allegedly entrusted to riders for commercial use were instead taken for sale.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Racheal Kawala said four suspects were arrested and four motorcycles recovered during an intelligence-led operation conducted in Katwe and surrounding areas on October 25, 2026.
The operation, which ran from 6am to 4pm, followed public complaints over increasing motorcycle thefts.
Among those arrested was John Bosco Kaggwa, who allegedly took a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle entrusted to him by his employer for boda boda business and attempted to sell it in Wansanso Zone, Kampala, instead.
Police said the suspect claimed the motorcycle belonged to his employer, who had entrusted it to him for commercial operations.
In another incident, Pius Galaba, 20, a resident of Aldina Road in Jinja City, was arrested at a Kampala guest house while allegedly in possession of a stolen motorcycle.
According to Kawala, Galaba also claimed the motorcycle belonged to his employer. However, when contacted, the employer reportedly said the motorcycle had been stolen from Jinja City a week earlier.
Police also arrested Emmanuel Kyeyune along Lubiri Road while allegedly transporting a motorcycle suspected to have been stolen from Kito, Bweyogerere, in Kira Division.
Two other suspects, Godfrey Kusima and Eriab Kubimana, both residents of Kakumiro District, were arrested in Wansanso Zone while allegedly attempting to sell a motorcycle believed to have been stolen from their home district.
The four recovered motorcycles are being held as investigations continue to establish their ownership and the circumstances surrounding the alleged thefts.
Kawala said police would sustain intelligence-led operations and surveillance in Wansanso and other identified crime-prone areas to combat motorcycle theft and robbery.
Five Arrested Over Seeta Motorcycle Robbery
In Mukono, police have arrested five suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery reported on October 7 in Seeta, during which a victim was robbed of a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, registration number UMA 242EM.
Kawala said the case file had been sanctioned, paving the way for the suspects to appear in court.
Police also recovered 47 number plates following the arrests, although investigations into the items and their possible connection to other offences are ongoing.
More Suspects Rounded Up in Kampala Operations
Meanwhile, police operations targeting suspected criminals across the metropolitan area have resulted in dozens of additional arrests.
At Kasangati, police arrested a suspected notorious cattle thief identified as Vincent Kinobe, also known as Mutasaava, following an operation in Nalusuga. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
At the Old Taxi Park, an operation conducted by police at the Central Police Station resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects.
Another operation conducted overnight on October 25 in Kinawataka, Katoogo and Buyinja by Jinja Road Police led to the arrest of 20 suspects.
Among those arrested was Joseph Awan Bwiire, whom police suspect of being associated with the gang of Awan Kaddu, who was recently lynched by a mob in Kitintale.
At Natete, an intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of 50 suspects.
The arrests bring the total number of suspects reported in the various operations to 101, although police have not indicated how many of them will face charges or whether the cases are connected.
Kawala urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected criminal activity through established police channels as security operations continue across the Kampala metropolitan area. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
