South Sudanese national arrested in Uganda over theft

July 22, 2013 (AMURU) – Police in the border town of Amuru in northern Uganda on Saturday arrested a South Sudanese national for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

Emmanuel Ondoka was arrested in Olegu, a bursting trading centre on the Uganda side of the border with South Sudan.

“He was arrested while trying to ride away with the motorcycle red in colour registration number EE114MC. He was heading towards the direction of Gulu”, Jimmy Okema, a spokesperson for the Uganda police in northern Uganda told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Gulu is located about 70 kilometres west of the border market town of Elego and is a major hub for Uganda-South Sudan trade.

The suspect is being held at Elego police post awaiting the owner of the motorcycle to lodge a complaint before he can be arraigned before a court in Amuru district.

Asked what would happen to the South Sudan national if the owner of the motorcycle does not lodge a complaint, Jimmy Okema the police spokesperson in northern Uganda said they will be compelled to release him on police bond.

Last week the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) arrested several numberless vehicles and motorcycles in Elego which has a major market that serves both Uganda and South Sudan.

Many of the motorcycles and the vehicles were reportedly from South Sudan.

“We stop you if you’re riding a numberless motorcycle or vehicle for you to show us the logbooks. If you fail to provide us with documentation, we impound you”, said Okema.

(ST)