Kiira regional police have launched a crackdown on boda boda theft rings in the Busoga sub-region. They have identified the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions as major market corridors.
SP James Mubi, PRO of Kiira Jinja police region, said the three prime suspects involved in the network of boda boda theft in Busoga have been arrested, charged with murder and aggravated robbery.
The suspects, he said, are being held at Jinja Central Police Station.
Fahad Magambo, age 25, is one of the trio. He is a carpenter and resident of Buwenge Mpya in Kamuli municipality, Kamuli district. Ali Ekido, 48, is a mechanic and lives in Ojukai village, Atooto sub-county, Ngora district.
The last one is John Ebunyu, 42. He lives in Omatai village, Okoboi sub-county, Kapelebyong district.
According to SP Mubi, the aforementioned individuals, as well as others still at large, planned their illegal activities in the early hours of the morning, primarily targeting boda boda riders who operate at night in all districts of Busoga, with a focus on Jinja, Kamuli, Iganga, Namayingo, Namutumba, Bugiri, Luuka, Kaliro and Mayuge.
The crackdown followed the murder of boda boda rider Charles Taligola and the robbery of his motorcycle UGD 294M on the night of December 7-8, 2024 in Wakitaka, Jinja Northern Division, Jinja City.
Taligola was laid to rest in Kiyunga parish, Kisozi subcounty, Kamuli district.
The Kiira regional police command, led by SSP Charles Nsaba, directed crime intelligence to track down the suspects.
“Intensified tracking is ongoing and so far has led to the arrest of the three main or prime suspects,” according to Mubi.
Confessions
Fahad Magambo confessed to selling five suspected stolen motorcycles to Ali Ekido in Ngora district, including the deceased’s motorcycle, Taligola. He disclosed the route he takes, which is Kamuli Namwendwa to Kaliro Gadhumire to Pallisa.
He (Fahad) blames his father for having introduced him to illegal activities. A serious manhunt for Fahad’s father, Peter Magambo, a Kamuli district resident, is ongoing.
Peter Magambo Sekitoleko told his son to travel to Ngora district and hand over the motorcycle UGD 294M to Ali Ekido, a mechanic. Ali Ekido handed Magambo shs3.8 million to take the money to his father.
Ali Ekido contacted John Ebunyu in Napak district, informing him that he is selling his motorcycle and that he has all required genuine documents. The two agreed, and Ali Ekido traveled to Napak to deliver the aforementioned motorcycle.
“While in Napak, they made a sales agreement of shs4.5m but John Ebunyu paid shs3.5m cash leaving a balance of shs1m. Ali Ekido handed over a forged logbook and photocopy of the national ID in the name of Paul Mugombesha.
“Ali Ekido explained that the national ID photocopy belonged to the original buyer of the motorcycle in question. Police have exhaustively ascertained the said documents are forged ones,” PRO Mubi explained.
Kiira police have worked with their regional counterparts to ensure that operations to break the motorcycle theft racket run smoothly, and that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
It has been clearly established that the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions provide a significant market corridor for nearly all stolen motorcycles from the Busoga sub-region.
The Kiira regional CID officer, SSP Monday Johnson Agaba, has set up a special desk in each of the three policing divisions to handle all motorcycle theft cases.
As far as tndNews is aware, the designated officers recently finished a rigorous two-week capacity building training course on how to handle cases that cause public anxiety.
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