The Kampala Metropolitan Police have recovered 143 suspected stolen smartphones, most of them iPhones, following an intelligence-led operation targeting an organized mobile phone theft and trafficking network operating in the city.
Police also arrested three suspects believed to be behind the operation, which allegedly involved modifying stolen phones before smuggling them to neighboring countries.
Three Suspects Arrested
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the suspects have been identified as:
- Tumusiime Derrick, also known as Gana
- Niyonzima Fabrice, also known as Sadat
- Kitoko Emmy
The trio is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
The Stolen Phones
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were part of a criminal network that received suspected stolen smartphones, altered their motherboards and other identifying components to conceal their origin, and trafficked them to buyers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Police believe the operation formed part of a wider cross-border phone theft syndicate.
Authorities have so far identified the owners of 20 recovered phones after victims provided police with previously filed theft reports and police reference numbers.
The recovered devices were successfully verified and returned to their rightful owners.
Investigators are now working to identify more victims, recover additional stolen property, and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network.
. @Lukowoyesigyire “Police has conducted a successful intelligence-led operation within the Kampala Metropolitan area, leading to the recovery of 143 suspected stolen smartphones, the majority of which are iPhones, and the arrest of three suspects believed to be part of an… pic.twitter.com/QFparySw5X
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) June 29, 2026
