Police in Lamwo District have arrested two suspected members of an organised motorcycle theft syndicate believed to be operating across northern Uganda, as investigations intensify into a string of violent robberies targeting boda boda riders.

According to the Uganda Police Force, the arrests followed a robbery that occurred on February 18, 2026, in the Railway Area of Lira City.

During the incident, a boda boda rider identified as Okello Moses was reportedly attacked with a hammer before his motorcycle, registration number UGH 245H, was stolen.

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Acting on intelligence, security officers mounted a checkpoint at Apyeta Bridge, where two key suspects were intercepted.

The suspects have been identified as Kilama Robert, 27, a resident of Lwaya Village in Ogili Sub-County, and Oweka Gerald, who was allegedly found in possession of a red Bajaj motorcycle without a number plate.

Police say a subsequent search at Oweka Gerald's residence yielded further evidence, including a motorcycle, related documentation, and several suspected stolen number plates.

The recovered number plates include UGF 193J, UGH 918M, UMA 367BC, UFS 918F, UGA 101H, and UGA 069H -- raising concerns about the scale and coordination of the suspected syndicate.

The two suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.

Authorities have urged members of the public who may have lost motorcycles to report to the police for verification and possible identification of the recovered exhibits.

Motorcycle theft and violent attacks on boda boda riders remain a persistent security concern in several parts of the country, with police maintaining that intelligence-led operations will continue to dismantle organised criminal networks targeting commercial riders.