Police in Kampala Metropolitan East and Mukono have arrested 40 suspects and recovered 16 motorcycles during coordinated operations targeting criminal hideouts and suspected black spots in Kireka, Bweyogerere and Bukerere.
The operations targeted areas suspected to be used by individuals involved in motorcycle theft, street robberies and narcotic substance abuse.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, one of the raids was conducted in Kireka Zone C, Namugongo Division, Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District, following intelligence reports about an alleged illegal motorcycle reassembly garage.
‘Acting on intelligence information, police raided a suspected illegal motorcycle reassembly garage where criminals are believed to have been keeping and dismantling suspected stolen motorcycles before reassembling them,’ ASP Owoyesigyire said.
He said 12 male suspects were arrested during the operation, while police recovered 16 motorcycles whose ownership and registration status are being verified.
The recovered motorcycles were taken to Jinja Road Police Station to support ongoing investigations.
Police also conducted operations in Wellspring, Kakajjo and Kazinga Hassan Trabi zones in Kira Division, as well as Bukerere Village and surrounding areas in Goma Division, Mukono District.
ASP Owoyesigyire said the operations targeted suspected criminals involved in street robberies and narcotic substance abuse.
‘The operations targeted suspected criminals believed to be involved in narcotic substance abuse and street robberies. A total of twenty-eight suspects, including three females, were arrested and exhibits of suspected narcotic substances were recovered,’ he said.
The suspects remain in police custody and will be processed in accordance with the law.
Police said the operations are part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal networks, recover suspected stolen property and improve public safety in the metropolitan area.
The raids come after Uganda records a decline in overall crime cases. According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report, released by the Uganda Police Force, reported crime cases dropped by 10.2 percent from 218,715 cases in 2024 to 196,405 cases in 2025.
Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba attributed the decline to strengthened crime prevention measures and enforcement operations, although police continue to identify motorcycle theft, violent crime and organised criminal activity as key security concerns.