Archival Sense
Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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A surge in aggravated and armed robberies has heightened security concerns across Kampala in recent weeks, prompting intensified operations by the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies.
According to a statement shared on X by the Uganda Police Force, between Monday, February 16 and Sunday, February 22, 2026, security agencies conducted intelligence-led operations across the Kampala Metropolitan area and upcountry regions. The operations resulted in the arrest of 1,095 suspects linked to burglary, aggravated robbery, narcotics, street mugging and other related crimes.
Police said the operations specifically targeted crime blackspots, criminal hideouts and narcotics hubs. Authorities also reported the recovery of dangerous weapons and other exhibits, in addition to rescuing victims and responding to emergency calls from members of the public.
The spike in violent crimes, particularly aggravated and armed robbery, has sparked widespread public debate. Many citizens have attributed the trend to the recent directive by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) banning street vendors and hawkers from operating within the city. Critics argue that the enforcement of the directive has rendered thousands of informal traders unemployed, leaving many without a stable source of income.
On social media and in public discourse, some Kampala residents claim that the sudden loss of livelihoods has pushed a section of the affected population into desperation, with a few allegedly resorting to crime as a means of survival. Others, however, maintain that criminality cannot be justified by economic hardship and have called for stricter enforcement and long-term security solutions.
Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to restoring order and ensuring public safety, emphasizing that intelligence-led operations will continue in identified hotspots. Meanwhile, policy analysts suggest that addressing the root causes of urban crime, including unemployment and economic exclusion, will be critical in achieving sustainable security in the capital.
According to a statement shared on X by the Uganda Police Force, between Monday, February 16 and Sunday, February 22, 2026, security agencies conducted intelligence-led operations across the Kampala Metropolitan area and upcountry regions. The operations resulted in the arrest of 1,095 suspects linked to burglary, aggravated robbery, narcotics, street mugging and other related crimes.
Police said the operations specifically targeted crime blackspots, criminal hideouts and narcotics hubs. Authorities also reported the recovery of dangerous weapons and other exhibits, in addition to rescuing victims and responding to emergency calls from members of the public.
The spike in violent crimes, particularly aggravated and armed robbery, has sparked widespread public debate. Many citizens have attributed the trend to the recent directive by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) banning street vendors and hawkers from operating within the city. Critics argue that the enforcement of the directive has rendered thousands of informal traders unemployed, leaving many without a stable source of income.
On social media and in public discourse, some Kampala residents claim that the sudden loss of livelihoods has pushed a section of the affected population into desperation, with a few allegedly resorting to crime as a means of survival. Others, however, maintain that criminality cannot be justified by economic hardship and have called for stricter enforcement and long-term security solutions.
Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to restoring order and ensuring public safety, emphasizing that intelligence-led operations will continue in identified hotspots. Meanwhile, policy analysts suggest that addressing the root causes of urban crime, including unemployment and economic exclusion, will be critical in achieving sustainable security in the capital.