CID set to launch construction of Crime Data Analysis Centre

KAMPALA - The Police's Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) is Friday (April 11) set to launch the construction of the state-of-the-art Crime Data Analysis Centre at its headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala. 

This is after President Yoweri Museveni honoured his pledge to support the establishment of the centre to beef up CID investigations. 

The CID director, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Tom Magambo, informed the President on September 5, 2024, that they had been trying to improve the process of getting the crime data in time and guiding decision-making.

This was during the closure of the two-day annual coordination meeting between the CID and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kibuli by the President, who was the chief guest.  

“We want to request you to support us put up a crime data analysis centre because CID is the one that produces the annual crime report and is supposed to provide all the quick and timely information on crime,” Magambo implored Museveni.

“I would want you to help me on the centre to see how we can quickly do this,” he added.

In response, the President told the CID boss and the entire Police force that he had no problem with the request and pledged to give the support.

"I totally support the crime data analysis centre. We shall have to build it and the forensics centre. We shall work on both of them,” he said.

He urged the CID to make use of technical solutions. 

"These technical solutions will help you. Don’t bring business groups or those looking for business and their agents to construct," the President said.

The meeting held under the theme, “The Contribution of ODPP/CID in the Socio-Economic Transformation of Uganda”, brought together about 620 participants.

These included investigators, prosecutors, and key stakeholders in the criminal justice system to strengthen coordination, collaboration, and cooperation for successful prosecutions in sophisticated high-profile cases and crimes like corruption and electoral offences, among others.

Ranked third in Africa

The CID was ranked the third most effective investigative agency in Africa in September last year by Kenya Trak, a research firm in Nairobi. 

It scored 74%, which placed it behind Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations at 82% and Ghana’s agency at 76%.

“Uganda’s CID is on the frontline of investigating violent crimes and insurgencies. This agency has been particularly successful in fighting organized crime and terrorism, thanks to its efficient use of intelligence networks and modern technology,” the survey said.

It also said that despite working under tough conditions, Uganda’s CID continued to evolve, using digital tools to monitor and solve cases linked to urban gangs and political unrest.

Crime falls by 4.1%

Recorded crime across Uganda decreased by 4.1% last year, the latest Police report shows.

The 2024 annual crime report released on February 19 said cases dropped from 228,074 in 2023 to 218,715.

Out of the total cases reported to the Police countrywide, 81,750 were taken to court, 46,302 were not proceeded with, and 90,663 were still under inquiry by the time of compiling the report.

Out of the cases taken to court, 26,328 secured convictions, 1,510 were acquitted, 10,333 were dismissed, and 43,579 were still pending in court.

The report said for 2024, a grand total of 220,594 persons (132,714 male adults, 59,331 female adults, 7,969 male juveniles and 20,580 female juveniles) were victims of crimes.
“On average, 18,226 cases were reported to Police every month in the year 2024. Out of every 100,000 people, 476 were victims of crime,” it said.