According to the Uganda Police Force there has been a general increase in crime by 0.1% with 196,081 cases reported in 2021.

The report was released on Wednesday morning by the Inspector General of Police IGP Okoth Ochola at the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.

According to Ochola, crime rates have increased by 87 with 195,931 cases reported in 2020 to 196,081 cases reported in 2021. He attributes the crime trends to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the subsequent opening of all sectors of the economy.

IGP Okoth Ochola Photo by Minah Nalule

The report shows that Assault , theft , Domestic violence and defilement have had a leap in reports.

29,317 cases of  assault were report in 2021, representing 14.9% of  all the cases reported, hence taking the lead. Common assault, registered a total of  23,167 cases.

However, this is a 4.5% decrease from 30,712 cases reported in 2020 while common assault saw a decrease of 6.5% with 24,799 cases in 2020.

2. Domestic Violence with 17,533 cases.

This is a reduction by 0.74% from the 17664 reported in 2020. According to police most incidents were triggered by family wrangles, poverty, drug abuse and cheating scandals.

Of the 17,533 victims, 12877 were female, 3103 male while 1,553 were children, 871 male juveniles and 702 female juveniles.

3. Threatening violence with 10,408 cases. The police recorded a 4 per cent decline in cases of threatening violence compared to 10,844 cases in 2020. Obtaining money by false pretense registered 8,634 cases, Malicious damage to property 6,980 cases,Cattle stealing 6,810 cases while aggravated assault (General) had 6,141 cases.

4. Sex-Related Offences, In 2021,16,373 sex – related  crimes  represented 8.2^ of the  crimes were  reported compared to  17,144 cases reported in 2020,indicating an increase of 1.4% .`

A total  of  16,545 persons were  victims of sex- related crimes, out  of  whom, 14 482 were  female  juvenile, 1,636 were  adults  females and  49 were  adult male.

Defilement, 14,670 cases were  reported in  2021 compared  to  15,230 cases  reported in  2020.Aggravated Defilement increased by 1.6% while Defilement increased by 2.3%.

Rape cases were 1,486 compared to  1 ,519 cases reported in  2020, showing a decrease of 2.1%. A total of 1,396 adult female and  90 famele juvenile were victims of rape.

5.Terrorism had 21 cases reported in 2021 compared to 02 cases in 2020. The increase is attributed to resurgence of terrorist activities by suspected ADF operatives which  to bombing in Kampala.

6. Fire and rescue services, registered a total  of  1,258 fire emergencies in 2021 compared to  1,015 in 2020 marking a 23.9% increase.

Fire incidents were mainly attributed to negligence, electrical, short  circuits and  charcoal stoves and candles wax among  others, in 2021,a total of 589 rescue emergencies were handled compared to 269 cases in 2020, 168 persons were rescued during the  emergencies handled compared to 151 lives  rescued in 2020. Of these, 157 were  males while  112 were females.

7.Traffic and Road Safety, there was a 42% increase in the  number of  crashes from 12,294 in 2020 ro 17,443 in 2021.During the  period under review  3,757 crashes  were fatal  and 4,616 were minor. There  were 18,305 casualties from  crashes in  2021,a reduced by 11% persons killed reduced by 6% persons seriously injured reduced by 13^ and  those that  sustained minor injuries reduced by 17%.

8.Aggravated robbery of motorcycles, saw a total of  258 cases of Aggravated robbery of money compared to 349 cases reported in  2020 leading to a 25.7% decrease.

The report indicates that Kampala Metropolitan North registered the highest number of cases of theft in the country, with 3362 cases reported in 2021.

KMP North is in charge of Kawempe 2,394 cases, Katwe Division registered 2,396 , Wandegeya 2,396 , Old Kampala registered 2,694 cases, Wakiso , Kasangati and Kakiri Police divisions and respective police stations.

Other Districts and Divisions leading in crime include; Kamuli with 3,078 cases,Luweero with 2,880 cases ,Mbale with 2,866 cases, Mbarara with 2,761 cases, Mpigi were 2,739 cases, Kiryandongo registered 2,607 cases,Mukono Division registered 2,357 cases among others.

Compiled by Minah Nalule