The Uganda Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to curbing crime in Kampala following a surge in high-profile robberies, muggings and gang-related attacks across the city.
Speaking during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Monday, Katwe Police Division Community Liaison Officer ASP Gilbert Nyaika said while crime remains a concern, authorities are actively responding through intensified enforcement and community engagement.
“With Kampala being the capital city, you cannot expect it to have a zero crime rate,” Nyaika said, noting that major urban centres globally face complex security challenges due to population density, rapid urbanisation and high levels of economic activity.
Kampala, at the heart of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, serves as Uganda’s political and commercial hub, attracting thousands of daily commuters and informal sector workers — dynamics that security analysts say can create both opportunity and vulnerability.
Nyaika revealed that police in Katwe arrested nearly ten suspects last week in connection with the notorious “bijambiya” gangs and a string of motorcycle thefts.
Five of the suspects have since been arraigned before court, while the remaining five are assisting with ongoing investigations.
The “bijambiya” gangs have in recent years been linked to violent attacks and coordinated robberies, particularly in crowded transport hubs and busy commercial areas. The term “bijambiya” locally refers to crude machetes often used in such assaults.
“We managed to arrest almost ten people linked to the ‘bijambiya’ and motorcycle theft in Katwe; five were arraigned before court, and we are working with the other five to help us lead to other gangs,” he said.
Police have intensified community policing and sensitisation efforts, arguing that enforcement alone cannot sustainably address urban crime.
“We have also intensified community policing and sensitisation; we have realised that some people do not even know they are committing or abetting crime,” Nyaika said.
He added that one of the major challenges facing law enforcement is community complicity.
“The communities that keep crying about crime are the same people who harbour the criminals; they know who they are,” he said, urging residents to cooperate with authorities by sharing information and reporting suspicious activity.
Addressing public concerns about firearms, Nyaika clarified that gun ownership in Uganda is strictly regulated under the Firearms Act and overseen by the police.
“To possess a firearm, you must be licensed and regulated by the Uganda Police Force,” he said.
Residents and business owners were also encouraged to strengthen their own security measures, including installing private surveillance cameras and improving lighting around premises to deter criminal activity and aid investigations.
Earlier on Monday, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke disclosed that at least 700 suspects had been arrested over the past seven days in operations conducted across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
According to Rusoke, 254 suspects were apprehended in Kampala Metropolitan East, while 510 were arrested in Kampala Metropolitan South, among other areas.
He noted that a significant number of those arrested are repeat offenders, some of whom had previously served sentences or been released on bail.
Despite these challenges, Rusoke said intelligence-led operations targeting crime “black spots” would continue as part of a sustained security strategy.
Police maintain that while urban crime presents ongoing and evolving challenges, coordinated enforcement, stronger intelligence gathering and active community collaboration remain central to restoring safety and strengthening public trust in the capital.
