Police arrest 7,159 suspects in two months

KAMPALA - The Uganda Police Force arrested 7,159 suspects across the country in January and February 2026, Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ocaya has revealed to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Appearing on Tuesday (March 10) before the committee with other officials to respond to audit queries for the year ended December 2025, Ocaya said 3,724 of the suspects had already been arraigned before courts of law as police intensify operations to tackle crime in different parts of the country.

Ocaya said 3,724 of the suspects had already been arraigned before courts of law as police intensify operations to tackle crime in different parts of the country. (All photos by Miriam Namutebi)

Within the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Ocaya said police arrested 3,512 suspects, of whom 1,935 were arraigned before court during the two-month period.

Police also recovered several exhibits linked to criminal activities during the operations. These included guns, pangas, housebreaking implements, assorted vehicle parts, motorcycles and drugs such as marijuana.

Security agencies also recovered stolen agricultural produce and livestock, including coffee, which police say has increasingly become a target for theft in several parts of the country.

Public Accounts Committee (Central) vice chairperson Gorreth Namugga chaired the seating.

However, Ocaya raised concern over individuals, companies and mobile money agents who handle large sums of money without adequate security measures, warning that this has become a major attraction for criminals.

“This has acted as a bait for criminals,” he said.

Ocaya told legislators that the general security situation in the country remains calm and peaceful, with only a few isolated incidents being handled by security agencies.

He also revealed that crime had reduced by 10.3% in 2025, according to the police annual crime report, which is expected to be launched soon.

MP Asuman Basalilwa

The report shows that the crime rate declined to 427 cases per 100,000 people in 2025, down from 476 cases per 100,000 people recorded in 2024.

Police statistics further indicate that a total of 196,155 cases were reported in 2025, compared to 218,715 cases in 2024. Ocaya said the figures are based on an estimated national population of 45.9 million people.

“This reduction is attributed to enhanced policing strategies such as the sub-county policing model, community engagement, inter-agency collaborations and other proactive measures being implemented,” Ocaya told the committee.

He noted that police have intensified patrol operations and strategic deployments in crime-prone areas, including road junctions, dark spots and other identified blackspots.

The deployments, he said, are intended to curb crimes such as street theft, vehicle vandalism and attacks by criminal gangs, including those that use pangas and paving stones to assault victims.

Looking ahead, Ocaya said the police leadership remains focused on strengthening crime prevention efforts while improving the welfare of officers.

Among the key priorities, he said, is the implementation of the sub-county policing model, which is expected to extend police services closer to communities and support government development programmes such as agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development and science and technology.

He added that the police will continue to rely on force multipliers such as CCTV surveillance systems, canine units, forensic services and other technical capabilities to enhance crime detection and prevention.

Ocaya also acknowledged that the force continues to face logistical challenges, including limited budget allocations and inadequate staff accommodation.

To address the housing gap, he said police are currently constructing 1,200 staff housing units in Naguru, Kampala, although the force still faces a backlog of about 38,000 housing units needed for officers across the country.