Katwe Police Recover 120 Suspected Stolen iPhones, Arrest Four

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Katwe Police recovered 120 suspected stolen iPhones and arrested four people during an operation focused on an alleged phone-theft and resale network in Kampala. The arrests followed inquiries into the theft of a police officer’s mobile phone on July 16, 2026, while the officer was deployed at Top City Plaza in Kisenyi Cell, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala.

According to the report, investigators arrested Richard Mugabi at about 3:00am on July 18 at his home in Kakajo, Kisenyi Cell. Police said Mugabi confessed to taking the officer’s phone while the officer was resting in a vehicle, and said it was later sold for Shs900,000 to Juma Mugerwa, a phone dealer with a shop in Cooper Complex. Police said the officer’s phone was recovered after tracing its movement.

Nile Post, citing police, said a July 21 search at Mugerwa’s shop led to the recovery of seven working iPhones, five iPads, three laptops, phone-resetting machines, a microscope and many iPhone spare parts. Police said a later search of Mugerwa’s vehicle uncovered 120 more suspected stolen iPhones, including iPhone 17 Pro Max models and older versions.

The named suspects are Richard Mugabi, Frank Mwesigwa, Sumaya Mutesi and Juma Mugerwa. Police said investigations are continuing to identify owners of the recovered devices and any other people linked to the suspected network. Kawala urged anyone who recently lost an iPhone to report to Katwe Police Station with proof of ownership.