Police in Kampala confirmed the arrests of key suspects linked to a violent daylight robbery in Kisenyi, a major breakthrough as authorities intensify operations to curb rising urban crime.
The incident, captured on widely circulated CCTV footage, shows a group of machete-wielding men attacking a man near Gwanda Shopping Mall on Friday, February 20th, 2026, at about 8:45 a.m.
The assailants reportedly fled the scene with a bag believed to contain cash, triggering public concern about safety in the capital.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that three suspects seen in the footage are already in custody.
“We responded and apprehended three suspects, and we have also impounded three motorcycles believed to have been used in the offense,” Rusoke said.
The arrests come amid a series of police operations targeting criminal activities in and around Kampala, including theft, assault and traffic-related offenses.
Authorities say more arrests are expected as security deployments are strengthened in identified crime hotspots.
Speaking during a local broadcast on Monday, February 23th, Senior Superintendent of Police Donald Muhwezi acknowledged public frustration over recent attacks.
He argued that the law enforcers share responsibility for the wave of violent crime disturbing residents in Kampala.
“Ugandans have every reason to complain. In the face of the public, we are as guilty as those people who commit crimes because we are mandated to keep law and order,” Muhwezi said.
However, he cautioned against equating isolated incidents with widespread insecurity, noting that recent weeks have seen progress in containing violent crime.
Muhwezi also attributed some of the attacks to drug abuse and public complacency, calling for increased community vigilance alongside police action.
“You will call me next week, and you will have no news on the crime in Kampala,” he said.
These attacks have reignited debate about safety in Kampala’s densely populated suburbs, where residents say daytime robberies are becoming more frequent and difficult to ignore.
Police have urged the public to remain calm and to report suspicious activity as investigations continue.
