Police are holding a suspect in connection with suspected human trafficking after 24 young people were rescued from alleged confinement in rented rooms during an intelligence-led operation in Wakiso Town Council.
The operation was conducted by Kampala Metropolitan Police following a tip-off received on May 29, 2026, at around 10:00pm, reporting that several youths were being held under suspicious conditions in Kikookiro-Kapeke Village, Kisimbiri Parish.
Acting on the information, officers carried out a raid on May 30 at about 7:00am. During the operation, police found 25 individuals inside the premises, including 13 females, 11 males, and one man suspected of supervising the group.
Twenty-four of those found were rescued and identified as potential victims of trafficking, while one suspect was arrested at the scene.
The victims, aged between 18 and 26 years, are said to have originated from different districts across Uganda, including Kasese, Lyantonde, Kagadi, Arua, Kakumiro, Fort Portal and Koboko.
Initial findings suggest that the group had been recruited from various parts of the country and transported to Wakiso with promises of employment in the marketing of herbal medicine products.
However, police confirmed that no herbal medicine products or related items were recovered from the rooms during the operation.
The suspect has been identified as John Edwin Gulu, a resident of Kasese District, and is currently in police custody as investigations into possible trafficking and exploitation networks continue.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said the operation was intelligence-led and followed credible information received by security agencies.
“Police received credible information that youths were being held in rented rooms under suspicious conditions. A swift operation was conducted, leading to the rescue of 24 victims and the arrest of one suspect. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and whether this is part of a wider trafficking network,” Kawala said.
The rescued individuals have since been taken to Wakiso Police Station for profiling and welfare support as detectives continue to pursue leads into possible organized recruitment and trafficking activities.
