Police crack down on crime wave in Kyengera, 32 arrested in overnight sweep

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In a targeted effort to curb rising insecurity on the city’s outskirts, the Nsangi Police Division in Wakiso has conducted a major disruptive operation, arresting 32 suspects linked to drug abuse and street muggings.

The overnight sweep covered several neighbourhoods — Kyengera Central, Nabaziza, Masanda and Kinawa — following a surge in community complaints about so-called rush hour robberies targeting commuters.

According to Luke Owoyesigyire, deputy public relations officer for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, the operation was carried out between 10:30pm and 3:30am and focused on known crime hotspots.

Police said in a statement on Sunday that groups of youths had been gathering in these areas to smoke suspected narcotic substances before targeting pedestrians and motorists. 

It added that in recent weeks, victims have reported a sharp rise in the theft of mobile phones and bags, particularly during the busy evening commute and early morning departures.

“A total of thirty-two suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Kyengera Police Station pending screening and further investigation,” Owoyesigyire said, reaffirming the force’s commitment to restoring order.

Kyengera and its surrounding suburbs have long served as important bedroom communities for workers in Kampala. 

However, rapid population growth has outpaced local security infrastructure, creating conditions that make the areas vulnerable to opportunistic crime.

Residents have increasingly linked the problem to the spread of informal ghettos where cheap narcotics are sold, fuelling the boldness of young offenders.

The evening rush hour period is seen as especially risky, with heavy foot traffic and slow-moving vehicles enabling snatch-and-run thieves to strike and quickly disappear into poorly lit alleys.

Police also said similar operations across the metropolitan area in recent months point to the re-emergence of organised youth gangs — often referred to as Kifeesi — particularly during periods of economic hardship.

The latest crackdown comes just days after a similar operation in Kira in Wakiso led to the arrest of 27 suspects. The February 12, 2026, operation targeted Bulindo, Katuli zone and Buwate in Wakiso district.

Police said the suspects were arrested on allegations of possessing suspected narcotic substances, with various exhibits recovered during searches.

Authorities added that criminal groups often use narcotics as a gateway to more serious offences, including phone snatching, house break-ins, and the nighttime waylaying of commuters.

According to police, such operations are also aimed at gathering intelligence to identify key suppliers and ringleaders behind the local drug trade, in an effort to tackle the root causes of insecurity.

Owoyesigyire said that the suspects from the latest operation will undergo screening to separate habitual offenders from those who may have been caught up in the operation.

Charges related to narcotics possession and theft are expected once investigations are complete.