Police in Nansana have arrested a 34-year-old Congolese national suspected of dealing in stolen mobile phones and transporting them to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The suspect, identified as Justine Kulimushi, was arrested on Thursday, August 20, 2026, following intelligence-led investigations into a suspected network involved in the collection and resale of stolen mobile phones.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, investigations began after an iPhone valued at approximately UGX 3 million was reported stolen at Nansana Police Station on April 21, 2026.

Police tracing of the stolen phone reportedly showed that it had been taken to Kalungi Plaza before being transported to Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Further intelligence allegedly established that Kulimushi frequently travelled to Uganda to purchase stolen mobile phones before transporting them to the DRC.

Police said they received information on August 20 that the suspect had returned to Uganda and was purchasing suspected stolen phones from traders at Kalungi Plaza.

A team comprising Nansana Police officers and intelligence personnel subsequently conducted an operation and arrested him.

During the operation, police recovered 27 second-hand mobile phones of different makes and models. The devices had reportedly been factory-reset or flashed, making it difficult to immediately establish their original ownership.

Police suspect that the phones were stolen from different locations within the Kampala Metropolitan area before being collected for resale to Kulimushi and other suspected dealers.

The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. Police are working to establish the source of the recovered phones, trace their rightful owners and identify other individuals who may be involved in the alleged network.

Police have also appealed to members of the public who have lost mobile phones to report the cases to the nearest police station and provide details that could assist investigators in identifying and recovering the devices.