South Sudanese security officials have recovered a motorcycle stolen from Uganda in an intelligence-led cross-border operation conducted on Wednesday along the Uganda-South Sudan border. The motorcycle, a red Bajaj Boxer registration number UMA 227GM, was recovered from Aboloro Village in Pogee Payam, Magwi County, South Sudan, just across the Ngomoromo border checkpoint in Lukung Sub-county in Lamwo District.
Uganda Radio Network has established through both Ugandan and South Sudanese security officials that two suspects crossed through the Ngomoromo border checkpoint in Uganda with the stolen motorcycle on Wednesday morning before security agencies tracked it down hours later. The motorcycle had been stolen on Tuesday night at around 9:45 pm from Kirombe Ward in Gulu City in Northern Uganda by armed assailants who also shot and injured its rider, identified as Dafalla Okech, 43.
On the same night, three other motorcycles were reportedly stolen in separate incidents in Bardege-Layibi and Laroo-Pece divisions, according to Ugandan security officials. Security sources told Uganda Radio Network that the suspects behind the brazen robberies are believed to be South Sudanese nationals allegedly linked to cross-border criminal activities, and have been residing within refugee settlements in northern Uganda. The suspects were identified as Emmanuel Ilingit and another man, only identified as David, both residents of Aboloro Village in Magwi County, South Sudan, who are on the run.
A security official stationed at the Uganda–South Sudan Ngomoromo border checkpoint, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said the suspects fled after they were confronted by South Sudanese security personnel during the operation. “The suspects managed to run away, but this operation followed a tip-off from Ugandan security after the incident in Gulu City. Those suspects are notorious and at one point even attacked a soldier in Magwi County,” the source told Uganda Radio Network.
The Commander of the UPDF Fourth Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori confirmed the recovery of the stolen motorcycle in an exclusive interview with Uganda Radio Network on Thursday. Gen. Busizoori said that although the suspects escaped arrest, the operation to hunt them down and dismantle their network is ongoing. “The suspect was very fast. He dropped the motorcycle and took off. That shows that we are doing something. Don’t think we are sleeping; we are following him,” Gen. Busizoori said.
He acknowledged the growing challenge posed by illegal firearms within the sub-region, blaming the situation on the vast porous border between Uganda and South Sudan stretching across Kitgum, Lamwo, Amuru, and the West Nile sub-region. “There is nothing that separates us from them; it’s just an open area, so because it is porous, you cannot put soldiers on every point. Sometimes it becomes hard,” Gen. Busizoori said. He urged communities to support security agencies by providing timely information about criminal activities and illegal firearms.
Gen. Busizoori also reiterated that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to deploy a special technical team from the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), to investigate the recent surge in gun-related crimes in Gulu City. At least two people have been shot dead, two others injured, and 10 motorcycles stolen at gunpoint over the past three weeks amid renewed gun violence in Gulu City and Gulu District-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
