KAMPALA, Uganda — Kampala Metropolitan Police have arrested 60 suspects during coordinated intelligence-led operations targeting criminal hideouts in Kampala and Mukono districts as part of an ongoing campaign to curb robberies, drug abuse, and other street crimes.
The operations were conducted in Kabalagala Police Division, Nakawa Division, and Seeta in Mukono District, with police saying the crackdown is aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the largest operation was carried out in Kabalagala Police Division, where officers arrested 30 suspects from a location believed to have been used for planning criminal activities.
The raid followed persistent complaints from residents about house break-ins and simple robberies in Kiwempe, Kibati, and surrounding areas.
Police said the suspects have been charged with being a public nuisance and are currently undergoing screening to distinguish innocent individuals from those directly linked to criminal activities.
In a separate operation in Seeta, Mukono District, police arrested 22 suspects from identified crime hotspots in Bajjo and Ntinda villages.
According to police, some of the suspects were found in possession of suspected opium and have been charged with drug-related offences.
Preliminary investigations indicate that several of those arrested are linked to incidents of phone snatching, robberies, and drug abuse in the area.
Meanwhile, officers from Jinja Road Police arrested eight male suspects during an operation in Mutungo Zone 1 (Kunya) in Nakawa Division.
Police said the suspects were apprehended from known criminal hideouts associated with drug abuse and robbery. They remain in custody pending prosecution.
ASP Owoyesigyire said the operations are part of Kampala Metropolitan Police’s sustained efforts to disrupt criminal networks and improve public safety.
“Kampala Metropolitan Police remains committed to sustaining disruptive operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, improving public safety, and enhancing security across the metropolitan area,” he said.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist law enforcement agencies in preventing crime and apprehending offenders.
The latest operations come amid increased police efforts to combat street crime, particularly phone snatching, house break-ins, and drug-related offences, which have been reported in several parts of Kampala and the surrounding metropolitan districts.
