The Uganda Police Force has registered a 1.5% decline in the number of crime cases reported in the year 2023 compared to 2022.
During the launch of the Annual Crime Report 2023 at the police headquarters in Naguru on Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola, said that 231,653 crime cases were registered in 2022, while 228,074 crime cases were registered in 2023.
Ochola attributed this to the fact that the force established disciplinary courts in every district throughout the country to enforce discipline within the force and ensure that officers adhere to professional standards and human rights.
He cited an example of 794 cases that were investigated out of the 933 cases registered by the public against police officers who violated human rights.
“Our success has been due to the hard work of the police in coordination with sister security agencies, the reorganization of the CID, improved detection and investigation methods, and the establishment of a proactive network of credible intelligence,” Ochola said.
Tom Magambo, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), said that out of the total cases reported to the police countrywide, 84,907 cases were taken to court, 48,632 cases were not proceeded with, and 94,535 cases are still under inquiry.
“Out of the cases taken to court, 27,125 cases secured convictions, 843 cases were acquitted, 10,096 cases were dismissed, and 46,843 cases are still pending in court,” Magambo said.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Jane Francis Abodo, noted that there is a need for police to ensure they summon witnesses to testify in courts of law to avoid cases being dismissed.
Meanwhile, the report also indicates that a total of 104,088 suspects were charged to court, of which 94,622 were male adults, 6,509 suspects were female adults, 2,657 suspects were male juveniles, and 300 were female juveniles.
A total of 213,601 persons were victims of crime, of whom 139,939 were male adults, 60,279 were adult females, 9010 were male juveniles, and 22,327 were female juveniles.
On average, 19,006 cases were reported to the police per month in 2023, and November 2023 recorded the highest number of crimes reported to police with 20,577 cases, followed by October with 19,303 cases, while March 2023 recorded the lowest crimes with 18,367.
The report also indicates that regions that have continued to register the highest crimes over the years include North Kyoga, Rwizi, Aswa, East Kyoga, Rwenzori West, Kigezi, Kampala Metropolitan South, West Nile, Katonga, Greater Bushenyi, Kampala Metropolitan East.
Other regions such as Busoga North, Sipi, Mt. Moroto, Ssezibwa, Kiira, Rwenzori East, and CID Headquarters registered the highest volumes of crimes, while the districts of Lira, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Mpigi, Mbale, and Gulu were mentioned.