In a coordinated pre-dawn sweep through parts of the city centre, police and military units descended on known crime hotspots in a bid to disrupt organized urban criminal networks that have plagued morning commuters.
Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said at exactly 5:00am on July 23, 2025, Kampala Metropolitan Police, working closely with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Crime Intelligence Units, launched a snap operation in Punjan and its surrounding areas.
They targeted groups of young men believed to be responsible for a surge in early-morning muggings and robberies.
These suspects were allegedly lying in wait for unsuspecting pedestrians heading to work or returning home from night shifts.
Onyango said the operation led to the arrest of 23 individuals, all of whom were taken into custody at the Kampala Central Police Station (CPS).
He said they are currently facing charges including public nuisance, with further investigations underway to link some of them to specific robbery incidents.
Barely an hour later, between 5:00am and 6:00am, another intelligence-led operation was executed along the Centenary Park stretch, covering parts of Wampewo and Punjan, targeting suspected pickpockets and phone snatchers who exploit early traffic congestion to prey on both pedestrians and motorists.
In that sweep, 11 more suspects were arrested and detained at Jinja Road Police Station. Screening and interviews are ongoing to determine their individual roles in the criminal activity.
These operations form part of a larger police strategy to restore public confidence and ensure the safety of Kampala’s residents.
Onyango noted that the operations rely heavily on intelligence-gathering and community cooperation, with more crackdowns expected in the coming weeks.
“We remain committed to eliminating criminal elements from our streets and urge members of the public to continue sharing information that can aid our operations,” he added.
