Police allow phased reopening of shops in Wansanso-Muganzirwazza

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Police have allowed shops in Wansanso near Muganzirwazza and Mutebi zone in Makindye Division, Kampala to reopen in phases following investigations into motorcycle theft.

The divisional community liaison officer, ASP Gilbert Nyaika, granted permission to traders and vendors operating in the area and nearby premises during a meeting held on April 25, 2026.

The meeting was also attended by several police commanders, including the division police commander (DPC) Katwe Police Station, SP Innocent Mubangizi, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Gerald Twisiime, the regional police commander (RPC) for Kampala Metropolitan East, Rogers Sseguya, and others.

Addressing the traders, Nyaika said vendors dealing in new spare parts, mobile money services and food would be allowed to reopen, while those dealing in old spare parts were asked to hold on.

Nyaika also warned traders against operating in the middle of the road, saying that “the road in between Muganzirwazza is not an arcade for you to work from, but for cars to pass on.”

Police had earlier closed Wansanso zone and surrounding areas on April 13, 2026, for a week as part of targeted security operations to combat a surge in motorcycle theft.

During the operation, police searched multiple shops, recovered dozens of suspected stolen motorcycle spare parts and number plates, and arrested over 29 suspects.

Police said operations would continue until the area stabilises.

Police warning

ACP Twisiime emphasised the phased reopening of shops and directed the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to continue investigating area chairperson Joshua Kaweesa.

He said, “We had a meeting on April 11, with his fellow chairpersons for LCs in Makindye Division, but all said that the chairperson of Wansanso (Kaweesa) is the leader of the thieves, and asked us to investigate him.”

Twisiime warned traders against engaging in criminal activity.

“We are here not for a joke, but for the cause. If you don’t want to work in a mature way, organise yourselves, we will come and organise you,” Twisiime said.

“Nobody shed someone’s blood because of money and remain in peace. People are on Bank loans, sold their lands, labour migrants, buy motorcycles for better lives, but you decide to steal. Confess and leave theft, I think you can count the days you spent without working." 

Some of the Police Officers who attending the traders and vendors meeting at Wasanso-Muganzirwaza in Katwe on Saturday.

"The operations will not stop until you stop shedding people’s blood, motorcycle theft and selling stolen spare parts in your shops,” he added.

Twisiime said many stolen motorcycles originate from different parts of the country and neighbouring countries, including Congo, Sudan and Kenya, adding that suspects remove tracking devices from them.

He also urged traders operating garages to organise themselves under accountable leadership and called on landlords to keep proper records of tenants.

Intelligence briefing

The Kampala Metropolitan Police Crime Intelligence chief, SSP Julius Isabirye, explained why police had spent a full week in the area, citing the impact of theft-related crimes.

Isabirye said, “We never come here for a joke, we don’t want this place to return to a place where thieves sell motorcycles after killing people.”

He added that “We decided to open this place for people to operate, but we will stay here to see what is taking place, and traders help us to mention those who are selling stolen items.”

Isabirye urged traders to elect new leadership, with Kaweesa remaining the local council chairperson but not the traders’ leader.

Operation to continue 

Regional police commander Rogers Sseguya said police would continue targeted operations against criminal networks in the area.

“We have been conducting, and we will continue to conduct, target operations to close illegal, informal, criminal-linked structures as part of an anti-crime crackdown, particularly against motorcycle thieves who sell spares at Wansanso,” he said.

“We are not happy and intend to close this place, and some are innocent, but we closed because of some of you with bad behaviour and most of you know it,” Sseguya added.

Sseguya asked traders to account for the sources of spare parts, noting that number plates belong to the Government of Uganda and their misuse leads to losses.

Traders speak out

During the meeting, traders named several suspected dealers in stolen spare parts but expressed fear of retaliation.

They said, “We knew the suspects, but those people knew some police officers, they arrested them after one day we saw them out, we fear to put our lives in trouble.”

One trader also alleged that a police officer tipped off suspects before the operation. Police advised traders to submit names confidentially in writing.

Barbara Nabbosa said previous efforts to report suspects had not yielded results, while another trader, Unience Tusingire, thanked police for the operation but urged them to sustain the crackdown.