Police in Nsangi have arrested four suspected phone and bag snatchers who have been terrorising travellers along the Kampala–Masaka Highway, particularly in the Busega–Kyengera swamp corridor.
The suspects were arrested on Eid day during an intelligence-led operation conducted by a police task team targeting criminal hideouts in the swamp.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, SP Rachael Kawala, the operation followed a robbery case reported on March 17 at Kyengera Police Station by a businesswoman from Namagoma Kisozi in Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso District.
“A case of robbery was reported by a businesswoman whose laptop bag containing shs5,340,000, two smartphones valued at shs1,300,000, and a National Identity Card was stolen,” Kawala said.
Kawala added that police tracked down the suspects after gathering intelligence on their operations within the swamp.
“An intelligence-led operation was conducted on March 20, targeting identified criminal hideouts within the Busega swamp. This led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of 20 iPhones and two Tecno phones from a makeshift structure,” she noted.
The suspects have been identified as John Muwesi, 33, a resident of Busega, Mbazanyi Saka, 25, a resident of Nateete, Stephen Kabuka, 23, a resident of Busega and a 17-year-old male, also a resident of Busega.
Police say the group is believed to be behind a series of phone and bag snatching incidents along the busy highway, where they target unsuspecting pedestrians and motorists, especially in the swampy stretch.
All suspects are currently in custody at Nsangi Police Station pending prosecution.
Kawala said efforts are ongoing to trace the rightful owners of the recovered phones and to arrest other members of the gang still at large.
