If you're connected as a leaf (ie with u/p capabilities disabled), all you'll see in the connections window is the 5 u/ps that you're connected to. Leaves don't see many connections. If you want to see all those connections (peers, other u/ps etc)... you yourself will have to be an ultrapeer. Ultrapeers are the ones who see loads of connections.

You can't make yourself an u/p though... the network will decide for you. To ever become an u/p you have to have 'disable u/p capabilities' unticked. If you saw hundreds of connections last week you were running as an u/p.

Hope I haven't confused you