Kampala, Uganda: The Territorial Police in Kampala Metropolitan have arrested 25 suspected criminals accused of violently snatching phones from motorists and passengers caught in heavy traffic along the Northern Bypass.
Police said the suspects were apprehended during an operation conducted on Friday, December 5, 2025, around the Double Q stretch, where they were allegedly caught red-handed, grabbing phones from victims stuck in traffic. Eight motorcycles reportedly used to execute the crimes were also impounded.
According to KMP Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, several witnesses have already recorded statements, while video footage capturing the suspects in action has been secured to aid ongoing investigations and prosecution. All suspects are being held at Nateete Police Division.
The arrests form part of a wider Kampala Metropolitan crackdown following a surge in violent thefts, roadside robberies, and coordinated gang activity targeting motorists, boda riders, and pedestrians.
Over the last three weeks, police have intensified night patrols, traffic-jam deployments, and targeted sting operations in hotspots such as Kiwatule flyover, Busega roundabout, Kyebando-Kisalosalo stretch, Kalerwe, and the Northern Bypass corridor, leading to the arrest of dozens of alleged gang members.
Just last week, security teams arrested over 40 suspects linked to juvenile gangs operating in Makerere-Kikoni and Katanga, while another 18 were picked up in Nansana over robberies involving machetes and metallic objects.
Police also recovered narcotic substances, stolen phones, makeshift weapons, and motorcycles believed to be used in hit-and-run theft operations.
Owoyesigyire has noted that deployments along key choke points will be heightened throughout the festive season, with covert and overt teams tasked to dismantle criminal cells exploiting traffic congestion and poorly lit corridors.
He hailed the public for “consistent vigilance and timely information” that continues to support the ongoing operations.
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