The recent spike in crime in urban areas mostly Kampala, and its outskirts have forced security agencies to conduct clandestine operations which have resulted in the arrest of more than 1000 suspects across the country. The were arrested between Monday 16 and Sunday 22 February 2026 when urban dwellers barely slept and neither did the security agencies.
Police Spokesperson, ACP Kituuma Rusoke, said across Kampala Metropolitan and far into the upcountry regions, intelligence-led operations moved quietly through blackspots and criminal hideouts. By the end of the seven days, 1,095 suspects linked to burglary, aggravated robbery, narcotics, and street mugging had been arrested.
In the densely populated neighborhoods of Kira, Mukono, Kyanja, and Nateete, officers swept through alleyways known for phone snatching and drug peddling. In Kampala Metropolitan South alone, 510 suspects were apprehended; another 224 were picked up in the East. Pangas, breaking implements, narcotics, stolen motor-vehicle parts, and dozens of SIM cards were laid out as exhibits silent testimony to disrupted plans.
In Entebbe’s Kiwafu Cell, 20 suspects were arrested, four of whom were later charged with aggravated robbery after being linked to an earlier attack. A rapid response team in Abaita Ababiri tracked down a key suspect after a distress video surfaced online, showing how digital cries for help now shape modern policing.
Beyond the capital, joint forces in Gulu City and Elegu Town Council recovered marijuana and 30 SIM cards from suspected criminals. In Luwero and Nakaseke under the Savannah region, operations in cattle markets led to arrests for robbery and livestock theft including the recovery of three stolen bulls and a motor vehicle.
But enforcement was not the only story. In Masindi, Fire and Rescue Services saved a juvenile who had fallen into a pit, reminding communities that protection extends beyond arrests. Many operations were powered by community intelligence boda-boda riders, local leaders, and residents choosing to speak up. By Sunday night, neighborhoods felt different. The objective was clear: disrupt gangs, prevent night crime, and restore confidence so lawful business could thrive a promise to keep communities safe, together.