Police at Katwe have recovered 120 suspected stolen iPhones and arrested four suspects following investigations into the theft of a police officer’s mobile phone in Kampala.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala, the investigations started after a police officer’s phone was stolen on July 16, 2026, while he was deployed at Top City Plaza in Kisenyi Cell.
Investigators tracked and arrested Richard Mugabi on July 18 at about 3:00am at his residence in Kakajo, Kisenyi Cell.
Police said Mugabi admitted to stealing the phone while the officer was resting in a vehicle and revealed that he handed it to an accomplice before it was later sold for Shs 900,000 to Juma Mugerwa, a mobile phone dealer operating a shop in Cooper Complex.
The stolen phone was recovered.
“Following the suspect’s admission, investigators were able to trace the movement of the stolen phone and recover it, which provided critical leads for further operations,” Kawala said.
Police later conducted a search at Mugerwa’s shop on July 21, recovering seven functioning iPhones, five iPads, three laptops, phone resetting machines, one microscope and a large quantity of iPhone spare parts.
Mugerwa was arrested, and a subsequent search of his motor vehicle led to the recovery of 120 additional suspected stolen iPhones, including iPhone 17 Pro Max models and earlier versions.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect has been dealing in suspected stolen iPhones and spare parts allegedly obtained from individuals operating on the streets of Kampala and surrounding areas,” Kawala said.
The suspects arrested are Richard Mugabi, Frank Mwesigwa, Sumaya Mutesi and Juma Mugerwa.
Police said investigations are ongoing to establish ownership of the recovered devices, identify other individuals linked to the suspected criminal network and ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.
“We urge anyone who has recently lost an iPhone to report to Katwe Police Station with proof of ownership to assist in the identification and recovery process,” Kawala said.
