A major police operation in Kampala has led to the recovery of about 80 motorcycles suspected to have been stolen and the arrest of nine suspects believed to be linked to a growing network of motorcycle-related crime in the city.
The intelligence-led operation was conducted by Kampala Metropolitan Police North in Munaku Zone, Lubya Parish, Rubaga Division, following investigations into a series of robberies involving motorcycles.
Police said the breakthrough came on June 16, 2026, when investigators tracked two motorcycles believed to have been used in a robbery in Muyenga to a parking yard in the area.
According to investigators, the yard had allegedly become a hub where motorcycles were sourced, hired and later used in criminal activities, particularly robberies targeting members of the public.
Acting on the intelligence, officers from Old Kampala Police Station, working alongside detectives and Scene of Crime personnel, mounted a search operation at the premises.
The raid uncovered approximately 80 motorcycles suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the country.
The recovered motorcycles were transported to Old Kampala Police Station as investigations continue to determine their rightful owners and establish whether they are connected to other unsolved crimes.
Nine suspects were arrested during the operation and remain in police custody pending interrogation.
Authorities say the arrests could provide crucial leads into wider criminal networks involved in motorcycle theft and violent robberies across the Kampala metropolitan area.
The latest recovery highlights the persistent challenge of boda boda theft in Uganda, where motorcycles have increasingly become targets for organised criminal gangs.
In many cases, stolen motorcycles are either dismantled for spare parts, sold using forged ownership documents, or used in the commission of robberies before being concealed in clandestine storage facilities.
The growing demand for motorcycles as a source of livelihood has also created a lucrative black market that criminals continue to exploit.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, called upon members of the public who have recently lost motorcycles to report to Old Kampala Police Station with proof of ownership to facilitate verification and possible recovery of their property.
Investigations are ongoing, and police say more arrests and recoveries are possible as detectives follow up on new leads emerging from the operation.
