Motorcycle thieves apply red pepper powder on riders; one person arrested in Hoima City

Two motorcycle thieves are currently in the custody of Hoima City police following their arrest with stolen motorcycles and motorcycle logbooks. 

The duo criminals are identified as Kirungi Kadiri and Sunday Ronald, all residents of Hoima City. They were arrested over the weekend.

The arrest follows continuous police-intensified operations to curb growing motorcycle raids and theft in the region.

Speaking of the arrest, the Albertine regional police PRO, APS Julius Allan Hakiza, said they arrested one Kirungi Kadiri with a Bajaj Boxer UFS 688A, a motorcycle with SD Ref: 45/7 stolen from Kagadi district in 2025.

Hakiza said that Kirungi could use red pepper powder to punch into the motorcyclists’ eyes to enable him get quick access to their motorcycles.

He revealed that the common cases of red pepper use by motorcycle thieves on motorcyclists in Hoima City was more registered in Mparo, and Kyentara.

Beyond using red peppers, security also established that Kirungi had also recruited other mafias to heighten motorcycle stealing in different districts of the region including Kagadi, Kabale, Masindi and Kakumiro.

Hakiza also disclosed that the two criminals would connive after stealing the motorcycles to change their registration number plates and logbooks.

In November last year, Sunday Ronald went to Kakumiro district, robbed and killed a motorcyclist whose details have yet to be identified by the police.

He robbed a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number UMA 273AU, which he later changed to a different number. Another motorcycle he stole included a UEW 345C which he changed its number.

“So, Sunday Ronald is an expert in changing motorcycle number plates. Two work together to steal and later change the number plates.

“So, Sunday has confirmed to us that he changed the motorcycle registration number plate UEW 345C,” the PRO said. “And we understand that these stolen motorcycles are sold to Da Maldivine.”

However, police efforts are underway to identify with the URA the clear particulars of the motorcycle but also have the suspects appear before the courts.

Although security efforts contribute to reduction of theft in the region, Hakiza called upon the victims of such incidents to always reach out to police for security camera footage.