Arua City Police have recovered 27 unregistered and numberless motorcycles during an intelligence-led operation conducted in the early hours of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in the city’s Central Division.
The operation started at about 6:00 a.m. when officers from Arua City Central Business Division Police Station escorted a suspect in custody to help recover a motorcycle believed to have been stolen and hidden at Hidmola Hotel, formerly Republic Hotel, along Lemerujua Road in Obolokofuku Cell, Central Ward.
According to police, the suspect led investigators to the motorcycle and later identified several other motorcycles suspected to have been stolen and stored at the same parking yard.
The discovery prompted police to inspect additional motorcycles at the premises. Since several of them lacked registration numbers and ownership documents, officers impounded them for verification and further investigations.
In total, 27 motorcycles were recovered and taken to Arua City Central Business Division Police Station, where they are being held pending identification by their rightful owners and completion of inquiries.
West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia said the recovery demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in tackling motorcycle theft and related crimes in the region.
“We initially went to recover one suspected stolen motorcycle, but the suspect pointed out other motorcycles that raised suspicion. Because many of them were unregistered and lacked number plates, the team impounded them to allow for proper verification and investigation,” Angucia said.
She added that police have opened a General Enquiry File (GEF 088/2026) to guide investigations into the matter.
“The proprietor and manager of the premises have already recorded statements to assist police with ongoing inquiries. We are working to establish the ownership of each motorcycle and determine whether any criminal offences were committed,” she said.
The recovery attracted several motorcycle owners who had earlier reported theft cases, with some visiting the police station to check whether their missing motorcycles were among those recovered.
Angucia urged members of the public to continue sharing information with security agencies to support efforts aimed at recovering stolen property and apprehending suspects.
“We urge the public to continue sharing information with Police. Community cooperation remains vital in helping us recover stolen items, dismantle criminal networks, and bring perpetrators before the law,” she said.
Police said more intelligence-led operations are expected as investigations continue into the recovered motorcycles and possible links to organised motorcycle theft in Arua City and neighbouring areas.
The recovery is expected to provide relief to some victims of motorcycle theft in West Nile while highlighting challenges associated with unregistered motorcycles, which often make ownership verification and crime investigations more difficult.