Police arrest 2 suspected motorcycle theft ring leaders in Busoga

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kiira region police have arrested two suspected ringleaders of motorcycle theft in Jinja, Namutumba, Iganga, Luuka, and Bugiri districts. The suspects, who are in custody at Kakira central police station are Matiya Musana, a resident of Kinyolo village in Kakira town council, and Dennis Waiswa, a resident of Busedde sub county in Jinja district.

Both suspects are renowned motorcycle spare parts dealers throughout the Busoga sub-region. According to police, the suspects dismantle stolen motorcycles and dispatch them as second-hand spare parts, largely sold within the major trading centers along Busoga’s highways. They are also accused of forging number plates and logo books, which enables them to easily sell off the stolen motorcycles to unsuspecting clients.

Available intelligence information indicates that the suspects track down their victims for an estimated two months before they strike and rob them of their motorcycles. Their luck ran out when police recovered a motorcycle registration number; UFM 917M belonging to Amuza Ogoola, which was stolen from his home in Wairaka cell in Kakira town council, in Jinja district.

Ogoola told journalists that, a group of four machete-wielding men stormed his house on  July 13th, 2022, and attempted to chop off his head before they made off with the motorcycle. He survived with injuries and managed to flee from the house through the back door, which saved his life.

The motorcycle was recovered while being dismantled by unidentified people at the request of the suspects at a spare parts shop within Bugiri municipality. The mechanical engineers fled into hiding. However, police managed to arrest the two suspects, who have since declined to comment about the matter.

The Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi says that the suspects have close links with motorcycle thieves throughout the Busoga sub-region. Mubi notes that motorcycle thieves normally camouflage as passengers or directly confront their victims to rob the motorcycles.

Mubi notes that at times resistant motorcycle owners are killed in the process of executing such aggravated robberies. He has challenged motorcycle owners to install tracking devices, which can enable security personnel to easily track down and recover them from suspected robbers.

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