The Uganda Police Force has released the 2017 crime report that details the number of crimes committed in the year.
The annual crime report was released by the Inspector General of Police Jm Okoth Ochola and covers a period of 1st January,2017 to 31st December,2017. The report also shows the number of cases reported to police in 2017.
252,065 were registered compared to 243,988 cases in 2016 reflecting an increase in volume of crime by 3.3%.
These crimes include robbery, sex crimes, murder, cyber-crime, domestic violence, theft and accidents in different districts and regions in the country.
Top 5 ‘dangerous’ districts named
An over all of five districts continue to register highest crimes over the years for instance; Lira, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Mbale and, Gulu.
Regions that listed increase in cases reported were; North Kyoga, Rwizi, Aswa, East Kyoga, Rwenzori West, Kigezi, West Nile, Katonga, Bushenyi, Busoga North, Sipi, Mt. Moroto, Ssezibwa, Kiira, Rwenzori East, and Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) Headquarters.
Homicides, child related crimes, theft, corruption and narcotics registered a sharp increase in cases reported to police.
Justice served
By the end of the year 2017, a total of 66,626 cases were taken to court, out of which 18,961 cases secured convictions, 1,419 cases were cleared, and 9,613 cases were dismissed. 105,017 cases were still under inquiry while 36,633 cases were pending in court.
A total of 77,675 suspects were charged to court of whom 71,680 were males and 5,995 were females and a total of 253,316 persons were victims of crime of whom 164,177 were males and 89,139 were females.
Crime analysis
Homicide cases for instance death by shooting, fire out breaks, poisoning, mob action, domestic violence and other causes were 4,473 compared to 4,315 cases in the year 2016 reflecting a 3.7 % increase.
The motives behind such killings were land wrangles, dissatisfaction with delayed or omission of justice, family misunderstandings and business rivalry among others.
Kiryandongo leads in suicide
The districts or police divisions with highest number of homicides include; among others Kiryandongo with 116 cases, Mbarara with 107, Luwero 93, Mbale 86, Kyenjonjo 75, Hoima 70, Kamwenge, Busia and Mpigi with 57 cases.
Mbarara continues to register highest number of homicide cases since 2011 to date.
The other statistics on other crime cases registered include;
Murder of high profile persons; On 17/03/2017 at about 0930hrs at Kulambiro a Kampala suburb, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his bodyguard Corporal Kenneth Erau and the driver Godfrey Wambewo were attacked as they left his home to work and were shot dead by unknown assailants moving on numberless motor cycles.
Death by shooting; 167 cases were reported in 2017 compared to 171 cases reported in 2016 giving a 2.3 % decrease. Death by shootings was reported highest in the districts of Moyo, Kakumiro, Mayuge, Mbarara, Kira Road Division, Katwe Division, Hoima and Bundibugyo.
Death by Mob Action; a total of 603 cases of death by mob action were reported in 2017 compared to 580 cases in 2016 hence an increase by 3.9%. Most of these killings took place in Districts of Mbarara, Luwero, Iganga, Masaka, Hoima, Mukono, Kamuli and Lira.
Death through Domestic violence; The Incidences reported to police in 2017, were 361 cases compared to 401 cases in 2016 leading to a 9.9% decrease mainly in the Districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Mbarara, Rakai, Kagadi, Ntungamo, Sheema and Kyegegwa.
Ritual Murders; In 2017, a total of 10 cases of ritual murders were reported compared to 09 cases in 2016.
Cyber Crimes; 158 cases were reported in 2017 compared to 106 cases in 2016 resulting into a loss of UGX. 169,528,325,550/-.
Defilement; 14,985 cases were reported in 2017 compared to 17,395 cases in 2016, thus giving a decrease of 14 % mainly in the Districts of Lira, Mbale, Gulu, Kamuli, Mubende, Mayuge, Arua and Dokolo.
Rape; 1,335 cases of rape were reported compared to 1,494 cases in 2016 hence a decrease by 10.6% mostly in the districts of Amuria, Apac, Kira Road Division, Mubende, Mbale, Mbarara and Omoro.
Economic crimes (private sector fraud); In the year 2017, a total of 16,031 cases of Economic Crimes were reported, compared to 17,214 cases in 2016 giving a decrease of 6.9%. Lira, CPS Kampala and Mbale continue o take lead in crimes for the past three years.
Thefts; 66,539 cases of thefts were reported in 2017 as compared to 43,515 cases reported in 2016, reflecting an increase of 52.9%.
Road Accidents; There was an 8.6% reduction in the number of accidents reported in 2016 from 14,474 in 2016 to 13,244 in 2017. A total of 14,557 crashes were reported out of which 3,051 were fatal, 6,530 were serious and 3,663 were minor. May had the most crushes and February with the least.