A 34-year-old Congolese national has been arrested in Nansana, Wakiso District, over allegations of buying and trafficking stolen mobile phones from Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The suspect, identified as Justine Kulimushi, was arrested during a joint operation involving Nansana Police and intelligence officers following investigations into a suspected cross-border network dealing in stolen mobile phones.
According to ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police, the arrest followed investigations into the theft of an iPhone valued at about Shs3 million, which was reported at Nansana Police Station on April 21, 2026.
“Tracing of the stolen phone revealed that it had been taken to Kalungi Plaza and later transported to Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Owoyesigyire said.
Police said further intelligence indicated that Kulimushi frequently travelled to Uganda to purchase stolen phones before transporting them to the DRC for resale.
On August 20, 2026, officers received information that the suspect had returned to Uganda and was allegedly buying stolen phones from dealers at Kalungi Plaza. Police subsequently mounted an operation that led to his arrest.
During the operation, officers recovered 27 second-hand mobile phones of different makes and models.
Investigators said some of the recovered devices had reportedly been factory-reset or flashed, a practice that can erase user data and make it more difficult to establish a phone’s ownership or history.
Owoyesigyire said the recovered phones are suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the Kampala Metropolitan area before being collected for resale to Kulimushi and other dealers.
Kulimushi remains in police custody as investigations continue to establish the source of the phones, identify their rightful owners and trace other suspects believed to be involved in the alleged trafficking network.
Police have appealed to members of the public who have lost mobile phones to report to the nearest police station and provide details such as the phone’s make, model, identification number or other information that could assist investigators in establishing ownership and recovering the devices.
“Report to the nearest Police station and provide relevant details to assist in their recovery,” Owoyesigyire said.
