Police in the Kampala Metropolitan Area have arrested five suspects and recovered 12 suspected stolen motorcycles following an intelligence-led operation targeting a network involved in motorcycle theft and disposal.
The operation was conducted on August 25, 2026, at about 5:00pm in the Ndeeba area under Katwe Division, Kampala District, following growing public concern over the theft of motorcycles in the city.
Police said the operation was triggered by the theft of motorcycle registration number UMA 330NR, which had been reported at Nabweru Police Station.
Following investigations and intelligence gathering, a police task team traced the motorcycle to Busabala in Katwe Division, where two male suspects were arrested in connection with the theft.
The suspects were identified as Mugisha Ivan, 28, and Kabanda David, 25.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects target relatively new motorcycles and allegedly conceal them after theft while waiting for their tracking devices to be removed.
Police said the motorcycles are subsequently transported to Ndeeba, where tracking devices are removed before the motorcycles are allegedly sold for about Shs1.7 million each.
The two suspects reportedly led investigators to Ndeeba, where they allegedly identified individuals and locations suspected to have been involved in the disposal of stolen motorcycles over the past three months.
The operation subsequently led to the impounding of 12 suspected stolen motorcycles, which have been taken into police custody pending further investigations. Additional suspects were also arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to five.
Preliminary findings indicate that the stolen motorcycles are disposed of through different methods. Some are allegedly dismantled and sold as spare parts, while others are reportedly modified to make them appear old before being resold.
Police said investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the network, identify other suspects and trace the rightful owners of the recovered motorcycles.
The operation is part of efforts by police to respond to the rising cases of motorcycle theft and disrupt criminal networks involved in stealing, altering and disposing of stolen motorcycles.
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