13 Arrested as Police Recover 723 Suspected Stolen Phones, 460 SIM Cards in Kampala

Uganda Police have recovered 723 suspected stolen mobile phones and arrested 13 suspects following a major intelligence-led operation targeting illegal phone dealers operating in Kampala.

The raid, carried out on July 14, focused on 12 shops inside Cooper Complex after security agencies intensified efforts to dismantle networks linked to the increasing cases of phone theft and snatching across the Kampala Metropolitan area.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, officers also recovered more than 460 used MTN and Airtel SIM cards, along with equipment believed to have been used to tamper with mobile phone serial numbers.

Police say the machines were allegedly used to alter the unique identification numbers of stolen phones before the devices were sold, including to buyers outside Uganda, making it difficult for victims and investigators to trace them.

Investigators recorded an early breakthrough during the operation after three of the recovered phones received incoming calls while officers were examining the devices. Owoyesigyire said the callers identified themselves as the legitimate owners and reported that the phones had previously been stolen from them in Makindye.

The discovery has strengthened investigators’ belief that many of the recovered devices may have been stolen from unsuspecting members of the public.

Police have since opened a General Inquiry File to establish ownership of all the recovered phones before returning them to their rightful owners. Authorities are encouraging anyone who recently lost a mobile phone under suspicious circumstances to cooperate with investigators during the verification process.

The 13 suspects arrested during the operation remain in police custody and are undergoing screening as investigations continue. Police say the crackdown is part of a wider effort to dismantle criminal networks involved in handling stolen mobile phones and curb the growing number of phone theft and snatching cases across the Kampala Metropolitan area.