Kampala Metropolitan Police have launched investigations into the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman by three unidentified boda boda riders in Muyenga, a Kampala suburb.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Ms Rachael Kawala, the victim, a resident of Nsangi in Wakiso District, was attacked in the early hours of Thursday after leaving a birthday party at a club in Bugolobi at around 4:00 a.m.
Ms Kawala said the woman, who was unfamiliar with the area, initially attempted to negotiate transport with one boda boda rider but failed to agree on the fare. She later secured another rider who agreed to take her home for Shs15,000.
“The first rider declined to take her at the agreed fare, but the second accepted. As they proceeded, the first rider flagged down two other individuals, and they followed the motorcycle carrying the victim,” Kawala explained.
Police say the rider who had accepted the trip later diverted from the agreed route, passing through the Industrial Area before heading towards Muyenga, with two other motorcycles trailing closely behind.
In a statement recorded at Kabalagala Police Station, the victim reported that the riders stopped at a dark and isolated spot where the three men allegedly took turns sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated and unable to resist.
After the attack, the suspects are said to have fled with her handbag, which contained cash and two smartphones. The victim was later rescued by passersby and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Ms Kawala noted that the incident mirrors a pattern seen in previous crimes linked to motorcycle gangs that target unsuspecting passengers, particularly during late-night hours across Kampala and its metropolitan areas.
“Police are actively investigating this case and pursuing the suspects,” she said, adding that last year several individuals were arrested in connection with a series of robberies and sexual assault cases involving boda boda riders.
Police have urged the public, especially night revellers, to exercise caution when using boda boda transport at night and to consider safer alternatives where possible as investigations continue.
