Four arrested as police crackdown on highway robberies in Kampala
The arrests follow an intelligence-led operation targeting criminal hideouts in the area, which has recently emerged as a hotspot for street robberies targeting motorists and pedestrians.
Police are holding four suspects in connection with a wave of phone and bag-snatching incidents along the Kampala–Masaka highway. (Credit: Police)
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Police are holding four suspects in connection with a wave of phone and bag-snatching incidents along the Kampala–Masaka highway, particularly within the Busega–Kyengera swamp corridor.
The arrests follow an intelligence-led operation targeting criminal hideouts in the area, which has recently emerged as a hotspot for street robberies targeting motorists and pedestrians.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala, the operation was triggered by a robbery case reported on March 17, 2026, at Kyengera Police Station by a businesswoman from Namagoma Kisozi in Kyengera town council, Wakiso district.
“It is alleged that the victim was attacked and robbed of a laptop bag containing sh5,340,000, two smartphones valued at sh1,300,000, and a national identity card,” Kawala said.
She explained that following the report, a police task team launched a targeted operation focusing on known criminal hideouts within the Busega swamp, an area long suspected to harbour gangs involved in highway robberies.
The operation led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of several suspected stolen items.
The suspects have been identified as John Muwesi, 33, a resident of Busega; Saka Mbazanyi, 25, a resident of Nateete; Stephen Kabuka, 23, also a resident of Busega; and a 17-year-old juvenile, also from Busega.
During the raid, police recovered 20 iPhones and two Tecno mobile phones from a makeshift structure concealed within the swamp, reinforcing suspicions that the location was being used as a storage and transit point for stolen property.
“All the suspects are currently in police custody pending prosecution,” Kawala said, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the criminal network.
She noted that efforts are underway to trace and identify the rightful owners of the recovered phones, while security agencies continue to pursue other individuals believed to be part of the gang.
The Kampala–Masaka highway, particularly the stretch between Busega and Kyengera, has in recent months seen an increase in reports of muggings and robberies, often targeting unsuspecting victims during early morning or late evening hours.
The latest arrests come amid intensified nationwide efforts to dismantle criminal gangs and restore public safety in key urban and peri-urban areas.
Recently, James Ocaya told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee that at least 7,159 suspects were arrested across the country in January and February 2026. Of these, 3,724 have already been arraigned in courts of law.
Within the Kampala Metropolitan Area alone, 3,512 suspects were arrested, with 1,935 taken to court, highlighting the scale of ongoing enforcement operations.
Police say these operations have resulted in the recovery of a wide range of exhibits, including firearms, pangas, housebreaking tools, motorcycles, narcotics such as marijuana, and stolen agricultural produce like coffee.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said intelligence-led operations are increasingly focusing on high-impact crimes such as aggravated robbery, burglary, drug trafficking, and street muggings.
Despite the persistence of isolated violent incidents, police statistics indicate that overall crime in Uganda declined by 10.3 percent in 2025, with 196,155 cases reported compared to 218,715 in 2024.