Uganda Police recovered 723 suspected stolen mobile phones and more than 460 used MTN and Airtel SIM cards during an intelligence-led raid at Cooper Complex in Kampala.
Initial reports on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, indicated around 300 phones had been found, but the total climbed after a detailed search of 12 shops in the busy electronics market.
Officers also confiscated machines believed to be used for altering mobile phone serial numbers — a tactic commonly employed to disguise stolen devices before selling them, often outside Uganda’s borders.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the operation responded to a sharp rise in phone theft and snatching cases in the greater Kampala area.
“Following an increase in cases of phone theft and snatching within the Kampala Metropolitan area, the Uganda Police Force on 14th July 2026 conducted an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected handlers of stolen mobile phones,” he explained.
Police searched 12 shops and recovered the 723 phones, which preliminary investigations suggest were being modified — including serial number tampering — prior to cross-border sales, complicating efforts by owners to trace them.
From one shop, authorities seized over 460 used SIM cards along with equipment linked to the alteration of phone identities.
The case gained immediate strength when three recovered phones rang during the operation. Callers confirmed they were the rightful owners and reported the thefts had occurred in Makindye, Kampala District, offering fresh leads to investigators.
A General Inquiry File has been opened to verify ownership of the devices and return them to their legitimate owners where possible.
Thirteen suspects were arrested at the scene and remain in custody for screening as investigations continue.
The recovery highlights ongoing efforts to tackle the growing problem of mobile phone thefts in Kampala. It follows a June 29, 2026 operation in which police arrested three suspects for stealing iPhones and trafficking them to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, recovering 143 devices at that time.