By Robert Segawa
The Uganda Police Force, working jointly with sister security agencies, has arrested 1,095 suspects in intelligence-led operations targeting criminal gangs accused of terrorizing members of the public.
The operations, which began on February 16, were conducted across the Kampala Metropolitan policing area—particularly in Kampala South, Kampala East and Kampala North—where several exhibits were recovered.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke announced the arrests during a weekly press briefing at police headquarters in Naguru. He said the operations were launched in response to growing public concern over increasing criminal activity in Kampala and surrounding areas.
According to Rusoke, 700 suspects were arrested within the Kampala Metropolitan area, including in Kira, Mukono, Kyanja, Bweyogerere, Nsangi, Entebbe and Katwe.
In Kampala Metropolitan East, 222 suspects were arrested, while 510 were picked up in Kampala South. In a separate incident, three suspects captured in a viral video assaulting a man and stealing his bag near Gwanda Mall in Kisenyi were arrested by Old Kampala Police under Kampala Metropolitan North. Two accomplices remain at large.
Operations were also conducted in other regions. In Aswa West, 184 suspects were arrested; 14 were arrested in the West Nile region; 102 in the Savannah region; and 27 in East Kyoga. In Entebbe, under the Kampala South policing area, 20 suspects were arrested, including four alleged habitual offenders linked to aggravated robbery.
Rusoke added that officers in Kampala Metropolitan East carried out operations around Nakawa and the Lugogo Bypass traffic lights, arresting four suspects accused of stealing motor vehicle parts during traffic jams. Recovered exhibits included side mirrors, spare parts and vehicle logbooks.
“We have engaged divisional police commanders on the issue of recovered spare parts with registration numbers to help trace and return them to the rightful owners,” Rusoke said.
He noted that the success of the operations was largely due to collaboration with local leaders and boda boda leaders in the affected areas.
Police and sister security agencies, he said, remain committed to safeguarding the public and their property.
In a separate development, a female suspect—whose identity has not yet been disclosed—was arrested in Oladai, Soroti, with 261 passports, certificates of good conduct, yellow fever cards and Uganda Revenue Authority receipts. She remains in custody pending interrogation.
