Corruption, economic crimes rose in 2024 — Police

By Simon Masaba

KAMPALA - Corruption-related offences, with some cases involving high-ranking officials, increased in 2024, the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024 says.

However, director of Criminal Investigations Tom Magambo says Police are intensifying efforts to combat corruption and hold perpetrators accountable.

“We have done some work in fighting corruption and we want to assure Ugandans that regardless of who you are or how much money you have, if you engage in corruption, the law will catch up with you,” he warns.

Magambo made the remarks while presenting the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024  at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala on February 19, 2025.

IGP Abbas Byakagaba arrives for the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024  at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala on February 19, 2025. (All Photos by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Crime falls

The report also says despite corruption-related offences increasing, general crime in Uganda decreased by 4.1% in 2024, with a total of 228,074 cases reported to Police in 2024.

While presenting the report at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, the Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Tom Magambo, attributed the decline to enhanced community policing, increased cooperation with stakeholders, and the implementation of the sub-county policing model, which has decentralized police services closer to the people.

“This is not a mean achievement,” AIGP Magambo said. “It means the entire police family, together with stakeholders, has worked tirelessly to curb crime. However, while crime has generally reduced, some areas still require intensified efforts.”

Crime trends and key highlights

The report highlighted a decline in major crimes, including sex-related offenses, domestic violence, and home break-ins. However, economic and corruption-related crimes increased by 1.6%, indicating a growing challenge in tackling financial crimes.

Break-ins, a major concern for the public, reduced by 7.1%, indicating that efforts to strengthen security and police patrols have been effective.

Prosecutions and convictions

Out of the 119,000 cases submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in 2024, police secured 26,328 convictions. However, 43,579 cases are still ongoing in court, while 1,510 suspects were acquitted.

Another 46,000 cases were closed without prosecution due to insufficient evidence or resolution through mediation. Over 90,663 cases remain under investigation and are expected to be followed up in 2025.

“The backlog of cases remains a challenge, but we are committed to ensuring that justice is served,” AIGP Magambo said.

Corruption and Economic Crimes on the Rise

While overall crime has decreased, the police report revealed an increase in corruption-related offenses, with some cases involving high-ranking officials.