Police in Kampala have intensified operations against motorcycle theft, recovering parts believed to belong to about 200 stolen bikes and arresting three suspects in a crackdown targeting illegal spare parts trade.
The operation, led by officers from Katwe Division, was conducted in Wansanso Zone, Kibuye II Parish in Makindye Division, an area long suspected to be a hub for dismantled motorcycles and illicit spare parts.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the ongoing operation began on April 20, 2026. A major search carried out on April 22 saw eight shops cordoned off and inspected.
During the search, police recovered a range of items including 28 Ugandan motorcycle number plates, eight tracking devices, three unidentified number plates, one South Sudan number plate, and three Kenyan number plates. Officers also recovered three intact motorcycles with tampered number plates, raising suspicion that they had been stolen and altered.
“Additional spare parts believed to belong to approximately 200 motorcycles were also recovered,” Owoyesigyire said in a statement.
Later in the evening, a follow-up operation led to the arrest of three suspects linked to the recovered items.
One suspect, Kavuma Faisal, was arrested at Shell Kibuye. A search of his shop uncovered a brand-new motorcycle without a number plate, along with several spare parts.
Police also arrested Sonko Alex, a resident of Kinawa in Nateete, who was found in possession of a red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, registration number UFC 830R, suspected to have been stolen.
A third suspect, Matovu Mike, was later apprehended in Ndeeba in connection with the same operation.
Police say investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to recover more stolen motorcycles and dismantle criminal networks behind the illegal trade.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to curbing motorcycle theft, a crime that has increasingly affected riders and owners across Kampala.
