Hoima: One lynched, four arrested over motorcycle theft

By Flavia Ajok

Hoima: Police in Hoima City are hunting for people who burnt to death Abitegeka Gilbert, alias Kasibante, 24, a resident of Karongo in Masindi district.

Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, revealed that on Sunday, at around 11:00 a.m. in Kijungu Hoima, the deceased was lynched and burnt by a yet-to-be identified angry mob over allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

Hakiza says the deceased was rescued by police and taken for treatment to Hoima regional referral hospital, where he died some hours after reaching.

He notes that the deceased changed his name from Kasibante to Gilbert Abitegeka when he shifted to Hoima from Masindi.

In relation to the above, police in Hoima have arrested four suspected motorcycle thieves after mounting an operation around the city and beyond.

Among the thieves was one Henry Mugisha, a resident of Paija ward in Hoima East Division.

Hakiza told ugreports.com on Monday that they received intelligent information about the above suspects, thus mounting an operation.

He said they recovered 18 lamp guards, 43 plate holders, 6 leg guards, 4 side mirrors, 1 fuel tank of a Bajaj boxer motorcycle, 6 ignition switches, and a motorcycle registration number of UFU 416A, all found in Mugisha’s house.

In a related development, Hakiza told our reporter that the three other suspects were rescued from the angry mob, and they include Patrick Wamani, 29 years old, John Byaruhanga, 36 years old, and Fred Ngozi, 32 years old. They were also found using suspected stolen motorcycles to steal from people.

He says the motorcycles have registration numbers UFL 218W and UFM 783N, and the other is numberless.

Hakiza revealed that all four suspects are behind bars and will be charged with possession of suspected stolen property, including a motorcycle.

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