A sweeping police operation across Kampala and Wakiso led to the arrest of dozens of suspected criminals and the recovery of what authorities believe is a significant cache of stolen property, in a move officials say targets the heart of the city’s underground crime networks.
The coordinated raids, carried out on April 20, 2026 by Kampala Metropolitan Police, focused on long-monitored hotspots including Mbuya, Kinawataka, Namugongo Nsawo, Bulindo Katuli, Bweyogerere, and parts of Makindye Division areas investigators describe as breeding grounds for drug use and organized street crime.
By the end of the day, 49 suspects were apprehended.
The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire said many were found with narcotics, particularly cannabis, while others were allegedly in possession of tools commonly linked to criminal activity-items such as hammers, knives, and wiring equipment believed to be used in break-ins and robberies.
Officers also recovered electronic devices and household goods suspected to have been stolen, hinting at a wider network of theft and resale operating beneath the surface of these communities.
But it was a parallel operation in Wansaso Zone, Makindye, that exposed what may be one of the largest motorcycle theft rings in the area.
Acting on mounting complaints from the public, officers moved in on premises suspected of harboring stolen motorcycles.
Investigators say criminals had been posing as passengers, only to ambush unsuspecting riders in secluded areas where accomplices would strike and steal the bikes.
Armed with a court-approved search warrant, police inspected more than 20 locations. What they found was staggering: piles of spare parts believed to belong to roughly 250 motorcycles, along with multiple concealed number plates, evidence pointing to a sophisticated dismantling and redistribution operation.
All suspects were put in custody and face charges ranging from possession of narcotics to handling suspected stolen property, as investigations continue to trace the full extent of the network.
Owoyesigyire said the operation underscores a renewed push to dismantle criminal enterprises and restore safety in affected neighborhoods. Authorities are now urging residents to stay alert and continue sharing information that could help bring perpetrators to justice.
