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Police on Tuesday evening swooped on suspected juvenile criminals hiding in drainage channels along Queens Way road junction, firing bullets to flush out the group and dismantle their makeshift shelters. The operation, conducted with support from Kampala Capit
Police on Tuesday evening swooped on suspected juvenile criminals hiding in drainage channels along Queens Way road junction, firing bullets to flush out the group and dismantle their makeshift shelters.
The operation, conducted with support from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement officers and other security agencies, followed a surge in public complaints over rising crime around the Clock Tower area.
“The suspects have been targeting pedestrians, snatching phones and bags, especially in the evening hours. During the day, they retreat into these drainage channels and hideouts,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Rachael Kawala.
The gang members were found having lunch. Photo | Ibrahim Kavuma
Authorities recovered household items, condoms, suspected narcotic substances, and sharp objects including knives, pangas, and scissors from the hideouts.
The structures, some made of wood and others from converted containers, appeared to serve as both hideouts and living spaces. Walls of the shelters were also marked with threatening inscriptions, and scenes of hanging clothes suggested the hideouts were used as homes by the suspects. The suspects operated businesses from the area, including a mobile money outlet, a chapati-making setup, and a small restaurant.
One of the arrested suspects told police that they usually work at night collecting garbage. “We usually work at night, collecting garbage and doing other odd jobs,” the suspect said.
At least 18 suspects were arrested during Tuesday’s operation, adding to 108 others picked during Easter Monday operation.
“Most of those apprehended are between 12 and 13 years old, with the oldest being about 25. This is worrying because it points to a growing involvement of minors in urban crime,” Kawala said.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be screened before appropriate legal action is taken.
Residents and commuters around the Clock Tower area have long decried the insecurity, calling for sustained operations to dismantle criminal networks operating in the city’s hidden spaces.
According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report, theft accounted for the highest number of cases with 26,510 compared to 28,358 cases in 2024.