The Uganda Police Force has officially launched the Annual Crime Report 2025, providing detailed insights into crime trends, public safety, and law enforcement efforts across the country. The launch took place at Police Headquarters, Naguru, highlighting significant progress in national security and crime prevention.

Overall Crime Reduction

According to the report, Uganda recorded a 10.2% reduction in crime, with 196,405 cases reported in 2025 compared to 218,715 in 2024. Of 115,301 submitted to the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions, 79,291 cases were taken to court, resulting in 24,899 convictions and 31,732 persons convicted and sentenced. Over the past four years, crime has been steadily declining, signaling ongoing improvements in national security efforts and law enforcement.

CID Efforts and Operational Capacity

Director of Criminal Investigations, Tom Magambo, praised the dedication of detectives despite a challenging workload. The detective-to-case ratio stands at 1:54, highlighting the need for continued capacity building.

The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has strengthened infrastructure, completing key facilities within the past year to improve investigations and overall service delivery. More than 150,000 cases were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with some cases dismissed or found to be civil matters wrongly reported as criminal.

Crime Trends by Category

- Homicide: 4,238 cases, showing slight reduction compared to 2024.

- Robbery: 7,863 cases, a 3.7% decrease from 2024.

- Sexual offences: 12,606 cases (6.4% of total crime), requiring targeted district-level interventions.

- Domestic violence: 12,361 cases, down from 14,073 in 2024.

- Economic and corruption-related crimes: 11,548 cases, compared to 13,132 in 2024.

- Theft: 56,360 cases, down 8.4%.

- Fraud (obtaining by false pretences): 8,455 cases, reduced from 10,449 in 2024.

- Child-related offences: 8,064 cases, a 14.3% decrease.

- Assault: 26,366 cases, down 10.8%.

- Narcotics: Cases reduced by 30%, but youth drug abuse remains a growing concern.

- Land fraud: 663 cases, up 67%, emerging as a significant challenge.

- Terrorism: 8 cases, down from 26 in 2024.

- Fire and rescue: 1,310 incidents, a 31.3% reduction, with a 96.9% response rate.

Traffic and Road Safety Trends

The Uganda Police reported 322,441 traffic and road safety cases in 2025, down from 426,432 in 2024, marking a 24.4% decrease.

The report highlights driver behavior as the leading cause of road traffic crashes. Careless overtaking and speeding together accounted for more than 40% of all crashes recorded during the year.

This reduction indicates improved road safety enforcement, but authorities emphasize ongoing public awareness campaigns and strict adherence to traffic regulations to further reduce accidents.

Election Period

During the election period, approximately 800 cases were recorded, largely related to political clashes. However, the elections were reported as generally more peaceful than in previous years.

Emerging Challenges

CID highlighted several challenges that need urgent attention:

- Drug abuse among youth, especially in schools and communities.

- Rising land conflicts, with some disputes escalating into criminal cases.

- Heavy workload on detectives, impacting investigation efficiency.

- Misreporting of civil matters as criminal cases, which slows operations.

Leadership and Support

Director Magambo extended gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his strategic leadership and support in enhancing police infrastructure, resources, and operational effectiveness, contributing to the declining crime trends.

The Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025 shows clear progress in national security and law enforcement, with notable declines in most crime categories. However, emerging threats such as land fraud and youth drug abuse underscore the need for continued vigilance, targeted interventions, and strengthened community engagement.