By Mike Rwothomio

The leadership of the Zombo District Boda-Boda Association, in a coordinated cross-border security operation with counterparts in Mahagi Territory, DR Congo, has successfully apprehended three suspected members of a motorcycle theft ring operating between the two countries.

The suspects were arrested in Pakwach District on Wednesday and Friday last week and transferred to Paidha Central Police Station in Zombo, where they are currently detained, as investigation intensify.

Fred Onenarach, Chairperson of the Zombo District Boda-Boda Association, confirmed the arrests and urged operators and members of the public to exercise due diligence by avoiding suspiciously discounted motorcycles in the secondary market.

Onenarach said the trio had been duping riders and disappearing with their motorcycles. He revealed that members of the Boda-Boda associations used known photos of the suspects to trace and apprehend them.

“We traced them in Pakwach after coordination with our fellow riders and arrested them. They were later transferred to Paidha Central Police Station where they are being detained,” Onenarach said in an interview over the weekend.

He added that the three suspects had, in recent months, been moving between Uganda and DR Congo stealing motorcycles.

According to the association, approximately 30 motorcycles have been stolen in Zombo District since the beginning of the year. 

According to the Boda Boda Boda Leadership, to prevent recovery, the syndicates often move stolen assets to hidden locations where security features such as GPS tracking units are removed or disabled. The motorcycles are frequently dismantled or have their identifying marks such as chassis numbers and registration plates altered to facilitate illegal resale.

Juma Karim, Stage Manager of the Paidha Boda-Boda Association, advised all stage managers across the district to strengthen risk controls by refraining from hiring motorcycles to unknown individuals.

He called for increased vigilance among all riders across Uganda and DR Congo.

Police are yet to issue an official statement on the arrests, which have triggered mixed reactions among members of the Zombo Boda-Boda Association.

The association has over 3,000 members and has expressed frustration over the rampant theft of motorcycles.

Cross-border motorcycle theft between Uganda and DR Congo remains a recurring challenge, largely due to the numerous porous border points.

According to the Uganda Police Force, motorcycle thieves who commonly target Bajaj Boxers operate in highly organized syndicates and use various tactics including the use of sedatives, deceptive hires, ambushes, forced entry, ignition tampering, and violent confrontations.

The government has introduced several security measures, including digital registration plates, to improve tracking and recovery efforts.

The 2025 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report recorded 5,752 motorcycle theft cases nationwide, reflecting an 8.8% decrease from 6,311 cases the previous year.

Members of the association at a press conference

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.