The targets were clear: marijuana smoking points tucked behind trading centers, dimly lit alleyways notorious for “paver attacks,” and roadside blackspots linked to simple robberies.
On a humid Saturday night, as most of Kampala settled into the uneasy quiet that follows a long day, convoys of police patrol trucks rolled out across the metropolitan area. Blue lights sliced through the darkness. Boots hit gravel roads. Doors swung open in neighborhoods long whispered about in crime reports.
It was 8:00 p.m. on 15th February 2026 when the coordinated operations began.
According to Rachael Kawala, spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, the sweeping crackdown was part of a continued effort to disrupt criminal networks that have plagued communities with robberies, drug abuse, and violent street attacks.
Nsangi: The First Sweep
In the sprawling jurisdiction of the Nsangi Police Division, officers fanned out across Kyengera, Kazinga, Nabaziza, Wakimese, Masanda, Kinaawa, Kikajjo, Kasenge, and Nakasozi.
The targets were clear: marijuana smoking points tucked behind trading centers, dimly lit alleyways notorious for “paver attacks,” and roadside blackspots linked to simple robberies.
Residents peered through curtains as officers moved swiftly from one location to another. Some suspects attempted to melt into the darkness. Others were found gathered at makeshift shelters and unfinished structures. By the time the operation wound down at 1:30 a.m., 80 suspects had been arrested.
The message was unmistakable: the night no longer belonged to criminals.
Kajansi: Responding to the Community
Later that night, at around 11:00 p.m., another team mobilized under the Kajansi Police Division.
This operation was triggered by mounting complaints from residents of Akright Estate and Kinyarwanda. Phone snatching had become brazen. Number plates were disappearing from parked vehicles. Burglaries were on the rise.
Police zeroed in on unfinished buildings, construction sites turned hideouts, and bars operating beyond permitted hours. Flashlights swept across cement pillars and half-built staircases. Inside some structures, officers discovered individuals suspected of orchestrating theft-related crimes.
By the end of the sweep, 15 suspects were in custody and later charged.
For anxious residents, it was a visible response to weeks of fear.
Nateete: The Morning After
The crackdown did not end with the night.
As dawn broke on 16th February, officers from the Nateete Police Division launched another disruptive operation. This time, the focus was on Busega Zone 8, Mosoke Zone, Kabawo, Busega Central C, and Kibumbiro.
The early-morning air carried the sounds of doors knocking, brief chases through narrow footpaths, and the murmur of gathering crowds. By the close of the operation, 71 more suspects had been arrested and charged.
A Coordinated Signal
In total, 166 suspects were apprehended within hours across the metropolitan area.
While investigations and court proceedings will determine individual culpability, the operations signal an intensified campaign against what police describe as criminal hotspots and organized petty crime networks.
For many residents, the sight of coordinated patrols moving decisively through troubled zones offered a measure of reassurance. For others, it was a reminder that the battle for safety in Kampala’s rapidly expanding urban sprawl is ongoing.
And on this particular night, the balance tilted—at least temporarily—in favor of the law.
