RUKIGA, UGANDA – The Rukiga District Police Commander (DPC), SP Musinguzi Moses Karakire, has urged Boda Boda cyclists to unite under a formal governing association to enhance their security and combat a recent surge in killings and motorcycle thefts.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The DPC made the call on Monday, September 22, 2025, during a critical security meeting engaging riders, bar operators, and local leaders at Nyeikunama Prayer Ground in Muhanga Town Council, Rukiga District.
The meeting was prompted by the brutal murder of 28-year-old rider Henry Mugume, widely known as Kaboy, a resident of Kirimbe Cell, Kandago Parish, Bukinda Sub-county.
Mugume was last seen alive near Rukiga Campus in the early hours of September 18, 2025, before his body was discovered later that morning and his motorcycle, registration UFA 409AG, stolen by unknown assailants.
This incident was swiftly followed by the tragic murder of Katabazi Bernard, a 48-year-old truck driver from Rubirizi District, who was attacked while transporting 35 tonnes of rice for SOCO PRODI Ltd Rwanda.
His vehicle was broken into at Omubufureka Trading Centre in Bukinda Sub-county, where 50 sacks of rice were stolen. Bernard’s body, bearing sharp object wounds, was later found dumped on the road in Kyobugombe Cell, Kaharo Sub-county, Kabale District.
SP Musinguzi confirmed that incidents targeting Boda Boda riders have been increasing in the district and, while assuring the public that police are actively investigating these cases, emphasized that collective community effort is crucial.
“I call upon individuals in the Boda Boda industry within the district to take charge of their security by mobilizing themselves and forming protective structures,” SP Musinguzi stated.
The DPC further revealed that the police have identified specific criminal hotspots and plan to deploy personnel imminently in a targeted operation to weed out perpetrators.
Naturinda Bright, the Chairperson of Boda Boda Cyclists in Muhanga Town Council, announced that riders have already begun organizing under the Rukiga Boda Boda Association, which aims to provide support to members during difficult times such as illness or death.
However, some riders, including Musinguzi Niwamanya, a cyclist at Muhanga Stage, expressed concerns that their organizational efforts are sometimes disrupted by local political leaders pursuing personal interests.
The police have pledged to continue working with the community to ensure the safety of all residents and bring the perpetrators of these recent crimes to justice.
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