The Police annual crime report of 2022 indicated an increase in the number of crimes reported to police from 196,081cases reported in 2021 to 231,653 cases in 2022, this represents an 18% increase compared to the previous year (2021).
The IGP J. Martin Okoth- Ochola while addressing the gathering at the launch of the report at Naguru based Police Headquarters attributed the big increase in crime reporting to the full re-opening of the economy after the covid-19 lockdown and the growing confidence by the public in the Police Force to handle crime matters.
‘’It is my pleasure to present the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report for 2022 as a form of accountability to the population on how the Uganda Police Force is fulfilling its mandate as stipulated under Article 212 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.’’ IGP Ochola stated
He adds, ‘’ In 2022, we note that there was an 18% increase in the number of crimes reported to Police from 196,081 cases reported in 2021 to 231,653 cases in 2022, mainly due to the full opening of the economy after the Covid-19 lockdown and growing confidence to report crime to Police.’’
The report of which Dailystarnewsug.com has gotten a copy indicates that out of the total cases reported to Police in 2022, 68,405 cases were taken to Court, 26,749 cases were not proceeded with, while 136,499 cases were still under inquiry, 103,873 submitted to the DPP’s office, and 10,648 culprits were convicted. While 57,506 were pending in court, 213 dismissed and 38 cases with acquittals.
This shows an improvement compared to 2021 where 65,008 cases were taken to Court, 60,095 cases not proceeded with and 70,978 cases remained under inquiries.
The report further revealed that the Land related cases to the lead in the most cases reported to police. The figures of such cases rouse from 332 in 2021 to 561 in 2022 and increase of 69% while escape from prisons increase by 32% robberies 30% and malicious damage 12%.
In 2022 38 guns and 705 ammunitions were robbed from police but 30 guns and 545 ammunitions have been recovered at least.
The accident severity index indicates that out of every 100 crashes, 22 people lose their lives, 61% of all accidents were as a result of reckless driving and 62% of the total annual accidents occurred during day time (0700-1859hrs).
The total number of common traffic offences was 456,993 and of these 20,294 involved motor crashes and of the crashes 3,901 were fatal, 10,776 serious and only 5,717 were minor.
The director in charge of traffic police directorate SCP Lawrence Niwabine attributed the increase in fatal accidents to reckless driving and car tyres bust due to expiry and over speeding especially by taxi operators who drive Drone type of ‘matatu’.
Niwabine advised the car owners to always check on the expiry period of their car tyres because this will help to avoid accidents that normally occur as a result of tyres bust.
He also said that the Covid-19 era left a gap in the transport sector were there was a reduction in the number of buses which lead to an increase in the importation of Drone type of taxi which are very speedy compared to the old type.
“Traffic and Road safety is a very critical area of concern and as a country we should look at it critically with keen interest because it has a significant impact on the sectors of the economy such as tourism and the labour force especially when the country loses the younger and energetic productive people in accidents.’’ SCP Niwabine cautioned.
Bukoli Island Member of Parliament Peter Okeyo who represented the chairperson of the parliamentary committee for defence and internal affairs said that the welfare of the security forces is very pertinent and assured police that parliament is working towards improving on their welfare through enhancement in salaries and housing.
However, out of the 183 Police Divisions/Central Police Stations in Uganda, Old Kampala registered the highest number of cases (4,314), followed by Katwe Police Division with 3,938 , Luweero Central Police with 3,902, Kamuli(3,268) and Kiryandongo(3,179).
By George Bukenya