🔊 Desist from riding late night, Gulu boda riders urged

________________

Bodaboda riders in Gulu City have been urged to avoid riding late at night, amidst the rampant motorcycle theft.

Reports reaching New Vision Online indicate that last month alone, 19 motorcycles were reportedly stolen from the members of Gulu West Boda Boda Riders’ Association, and so far, only 10 have been recovered, according to a report from the association.

Meanwhile, 26 motorcycles were stolen between May and June this year from the riders who subscribe to Gulu East BodaBoda Riders’ Association, according to the association’s head of enforcement, Patrick Okumu.

Okumu says some of the victims of the vice were first attacked by suspected iron bar hitmen before taking their motorcycles.

Emmy Ocen, the chairperson of Gulu West Boda Boda Riders’ Association, warned the riders against riding late at night, citing a recent case where a rider identified as Richard Ouma, 33, was hit in the head by the attackers who later took his motorcycle.

Growing concern

According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2024, a total of 6,311 cases of theft of motorcycles with majority of these being bodabodas were reported to Police in the period under review compared to 6,065 cases reported in 2023, giving an increase of 4.1% motorcycle thefts in the whole year.

A total of 11,214 motorcycles were reported stolen, out of which 2,355 were recovered, 1,527 were found abandoned, while 7,332 were not recovered.