The Uganda Police is scheduled to unveil the annual crime report for the year 2023 on February 21, 2024. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of crime trends, patterns, and ratios, serving as a means of accountability to the populace regarding the fulfillment of the Police’s mandate.
Announced via the official channel, the Criminal Investigations Directorate revealed that the report’s release will take place at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, commencing at 10 am.
In addition to outlining crime statistics, the report will address contemporary challenges faced by the Police and detail efforts undertaken to curtail crime, striving towards the establishment of a safe and crime-free society.
Reflecting on the previous year’s findings, the 2022 report highlighted an 18% surge in reported crimes, escalating from 196,081 cases in 2021 to 231,653 cases.
During the presentation of the report, Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, attributed the uptick in crime to the full reopening of the economy following COVID-19-induced lockdowns, coupled with increased confidence among citizens in reporting crimes to law enforcement authorities.
Providing insight into the disposition of reported cases, Ochola disclosed that out of the total cases reported in 2022, 68,405 cases progressed to court, 26,749 cases were not pursued further, while 136,499 cases remained under inquiry—a notable improvement compared to the preceding year.
Furthermore, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety observed a 35% rise in common traffic offenses nationwide, escalating from 336,722 cases in 2021 to 456,993 cases in 2022. Consequently, the number of road traffic accidents increased by 16.9%, with 3,901 crashes classified as fatal, 10,776 as serious, and 5,717 as minor incidents.
Emphasizing the collective responsibility in combating crime, the Police Chief urged all Ugandans to remain vigilant and contribute to fostering a safer environment for all citizens.
According to data from the 2022 report, Luweero Police Station recorded the highest number of crimes nationwide, with 1,261 reported cases, followed closely by Old Kampala Police Division with 1,201 cases.
