Dangerous tools recovered as Katwe Police round up suspected thugs
Blades, a hammer and suspected narcotics were some of the items recovered during the joint operations.
Cutting tools like this machete were some of the items recovered during the joint operations. (Credit: Uganda Police Force)
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The Police in Kampala have rounded up 18 men suspected of being involved in incidents of phone snatching and attacks on unwitting victims.
Blades, a hammer and suspected narcotics were some of the items recovered during the joint operations.
The crackdown was conducted "in response to public outcry and widely circulated social media videos showing incidents of phone snatching and attacks on unsuspecting victims in motor vehicles," Police said on Tuesday.
The Police in Katwe joined forces with the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) to carry out the security operation around the Clock Tower area in Kampala.
Eighteen suspects were arrested as a result.
"The operations were aimed at curbing phone snatching, robberies, and other criminal activities within the area," said Police.
"It was established that the suspects had set up a camp along the Nakivubo Channel in Katwe (Katenda Zone), which harboured them. The illegal structures have since been successfully demolished by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)."
The suspects are currently in police custody pending court proceedings.
Similar joint operations led by Katwe Police were carried out on Monday this week in West Zone, Base Zone, and Kibuye I Parish in Makindye Division, resulting in the arrest of over 100 suspects.