It’s that time again when the Uganda police force releases its annual report detailing the crimes that terrorized the public.

The annual report 2020 for crimes in Uganda shows that murder and defilement took the lion’s bite among other notable crimes that happened.

While Launching the report at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, the inspector General Police Martin Okoth Ochola said the crime rates dropped from 215,224 in 2019 to 195,931 in 2020.

Okoth has attributed the general fall in crime to better surveillance mechanisms in place by police that include CCTVs,finger print technology on guns , reinforcing of LDU’S and Police Flying squad and availability of the 999 system for reporting crime,

The police boss also said crime was decreased as result of the lock-down and curfew that was instituted in March 2020 .

AIGP Grace Akullo-Director CID, says a total of 14,134 cases of defilement that was reported, an increase of 3.8% from the 13,613 cases that were reported in 2019.

The most affected were children between the age of 15 and 17 years at  9,954, followed by victims aged between 9 and 14 years who were 2,986 .            

Of these ,301 children were defiled by persons living with HIV, and 120 children were defiled by their parents.

“This is absurd and completely deplorable,” AIGP Akullo said.

“The category of 15 – 17 years is mainly made of victims of defilement due to some cultural norm still practiced where girls who have developed breasts are considered ready for marriage,” said Akullo. “

These defilement cases are also due to adolescent age where many young girls are taken advantage of whereas some of the girls are defiled in the process of doing domestic work.”  

The report also shows that a total of 440 people were killed as a result of aggravated domestic violence of whom 213 were male adults,169 were Female adults,33 were male juveniles and 24 were Female juveniles.

540 cases of murder by mob action were reported by the end of 2020, with most victims committing offenses of theft,robbery,murder, witchcraft among others.

Albertine region had the highest cases of murderby mob action followed by rwizi,north kyoga,westnile

Also a total of 249 cases of murder by shooting were reported in 2020 ,compared to 181 in 2019 ,which is a 37.5 ercent increase.

AIGP Grace Akullo Director CID says in 2020, Organised Criminal Syndicates committed heinous crimes within the regions of Kampala Metropolitan Policing Area, Rwenzori East, Namayingo, Mbale, Jinja and other areas.

She however says with well guided investigations, coordination and collaboration with sister security agencies, 08 criminal syndicates were identified and dismantled .

CP Lawrence Nuwabiine Ag Dir Traffic:There was a 4.7% reduction in the number of crashes reported in 2020 from 12,858 crashes reported in 2019 to 12,249 crashes reported in 2020. During the period under review, 3,269 crashes were fatal, 5,803 were serious and 3,177were minor. Fatal crashes reduced by 4.1%, serious crashes reduced by 3.2%, and minor crashes reduced by 8.2%

Murder as a result of Domestic violence 418 cases were reported compared to 360 cases reported in 2019.

Aswa region had the highest number of cases of murder as a result of Domestic violence in 2020 followed Albertine,Rwizi,Rwenzori west,Kigezi.