Following an increase in cases of phone theft and snatching within the Kampala Metropolitan area, the Uganda Police Force on 14th July 2026 conducted an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected handlers of stolen mobile phones.
The operation was carried out at Cooper Complex in Kampala, where a total of 12 shops were searched. During the operation, police recovered 723 mobile phones suspected to be stolen.
Preliminary investigations indicate that stolen phones are allegedly altered, including tampering with their serial numbers, before being sold across borders, making their recovery by the rightful owners extremely difficult.
Police also recovered over 460 used MTN and Airtel SIM cards from one of the shops, along with machines suspected to have been used to alter mobile phone serial numbers .
During the operation, three of the recovered phones received calls from individuals who identified themselves as the rightful owners. The callers reported that the phones had been stolen from them in the Makindye area, in Kampala district providing an immediate lead in the investigations.
A General Inquiry File has been opened to establish the legal ownership of all the recovered phones and to facilitate their return to their rightful owners where appropriate.
13 suspects have been arrested and will be screened .
Inquiries are ongoing.
